The global increase in population has placed significant pressure on food security, leading to the emergence of aquaculture as a vital source of aquatic foods. However, rising costs and the limited availability of fishmeal in aquafeeds have spurred the search for alternative protein sources. While plant-based ingredients have been integrated into commercial aquafeeds, they come with challenges, including low protein content, palatability issues, and the presence of antinutritional factors. In this context, fish silage, derived from fish waste and discarded fish, stands out as a promising alternative technology due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability attributes. The production of fish silage involves the addition of organic/inorganic acids or lactic acid bacteria to homogenized fish waste. This process yields a valuable mixture rich in peptides, free amino acids, and partially hydrolyzed proteins, offering significant nutritional benefits for animal diets. Beyond its nutritional advantages, fish silage contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the impact of waste disposal and enhancing the value of fish waste. The objective of this review is to promote sustainable practices in the aquaculture industry in response to the increasing demand for high-quality feed nutrients. To achieve this, it includes an analysis of research results related to silage technology, an appraisal of the advantages and disadvantages of using fish silage as a feed additive, and a focus on emerging trends in this field.

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) aims to achieve its purpose by working across multiple sectors and involving multi-level actors in reducing deforestation and forest degradation in tropical countries. By contrast, the European Union (EU) Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and its Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) focus on forestry and functions at bilateral state level. The FLEGT Action Plan specifically aims to tackle illegal logging, legalise timber production and trade improve forest governance in countries exporting tropical timber to the EU. Since illegal logging is just one driver of deforestation and forest degeneration, and legalisation of logging does not necessarily reduce deforestation and forest degradation, the two instruments differ in scale and scope. However, by addressing the causes of deforestation and forest degradation and their underlying governance issues, the EU FLEGT and REDD+ share many functional linkages at higher levels of forest policy and forest governance. The contribution and participation of civil society organisations (CSOs) and other actors is imperative to both processes. Our study is based on a survey of key actors (national and international) in REDD+ and FLEGT VPA processes in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Our analysis was guided by the theoretical perspectives of the policy arrangement approach and examination of two specific dimensions of this approach, namely resources and rules of the game. This paper argues that participation of CSOs in both processes is crucial as it facilitates and nurtures the very much needed cooperation between other national and international actors. The paper also argues that participation of CSOs feeds valuable information and knowledge into REDD+ and FLEGT VPA processes, thus contributing to increased legitimacy, justice and transparency.

Biogeography research is flawed by the poor understanding of microbial distributions due to the lack of a systematic research framework, especially regarding appropriate study units. By combining pure culture and molecular methods, we studied the biogeographic patterns of nematode-trapping fungi by collecting and analysing 2,250 specimens from 228 sites in Yunnan Province, China. We found typical watershed patterns at the species and genetic levels of nematode-trapping fungi. The results showed that microbial biogeography could be better understood by 1) using watersheds as research units, 2) removing the coverup of widespread species, and 3) applying good sampling efforts and strategies. We suggest that watersheds could help unify the understanding of the biogeographic patterns of animals, plants, and microbes and may also help account for the historical and contemporary factors driving species distributions.

Bettelmatt cheese, a cherished Italian culinary gem hailing from the picturesque Val d'Ossola region, is deeply intertwined with its natural environment. This article explores the intricate relationship between the organoleptic attributes of Bettelmatt cheese and the challenges posed by climate change. The sensory qualities of this cheese, including its flavor profile, texture, and aroma, are profoundly influenced by the alpine pastures where the cows graze, the unique terroir, and the traditional production methods. However, as climate change continues to impact ecosystems and weather patterns, it raises questions about the resilience and adaptability of this traditional cheese. In addition to these challenges, the article would like to explore the complexities of regulation and protection of this cheese, crucial for food and gastronomic sciences.

Identification of the individuals having impaired kidney function is essential in preventing the complications of this disease. We measured 1 009 metabolites at the baseline study in 10 159 Finnish men of the METSIM cohort and associated the metabolites with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). A total of 7 090 men participated in the 12-year follow-up study. Non-targeted metabolomics profiling was performed at Metabolon, Inc. (Morrisville, NC, USA) on EDTA plasma samples obtained after overnight fasting. We applied Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify the metabolites (the Metabolon DiscoveryHD4 platform). We performed association analyses between the eGFR and metabolites using linear regression adjusted for confounding factors. We found 108 metabolites significantly associated with a decrease in eGFR, and 28 of them were novel including 12 amino acids, 8 xenobiotics, 5 lipids, 1 nucleotide, 1 peptide, and 1 partially characterized molecule. The most significant associations were with five amino acids, N-acetylmethionine, N-acetylvaline, gamma-carboxyglutamate, 3-methylglutaryl-carnitine, and pro-line. We identified 28 novel metabolites associated with decreased eGFR in the 12-year follow-up study of the METSIM cohort.

Mercury (Hg) analyses in species of fish are performed for two reasons 1) to safeguard human health, 2) to assess environmental quality, since different environmental changes may increase the Hg concentrations in fish. These analyses are important since both natural and human activities can increase these Hg concentrations, which can vary extensively, depending on the species, age and catching location. Unfortunately, humans consuming Hg contaminated fish or other marine foodstuffs cannot taste Hg contamination; this can be only detected by chemical analysis. If the aim of Hg analysis is to protect the health of marine-food consumers, researchers workers must consider the location where the fish were caught and interpret the results accordingly. Health and environmental officials must appreciate that in specific places many local people may have a daily diet almost entirely consisting of fish or other marine foods, and these individuals should not be exposed to high concentrations of Hg. Regional and national health and environmental officials should follow the guidance of international organizations when drawing their final conclusions about whether or not the products are safe to eat.

The current study explores the impact of celebrity endorsements and social media platforms on promoting sustainable consumer behavior in Nigerian tourism industry. The study employs Mentionlytics software to analyze online documents and examine how political celebrities and social media platforms (Twitter and Facebook) influence consumer behavior and decision-making processes within the tourism industry. The findings in phase 1 suggest that celebrity endorsements and social media platforms have a positive impact on sustainable consumer behavior. The results in phase 2 suggest that political celebrities engage followers on Facebook based on the 70% share. However, no engagement was found on Twitter based on the zero percent (0%) share, suggesting that Facebook enables political celebrities to promote sustainable tourism. The study contributes to the literature on sustainability and celebrity endorsements, offering insights for destination marketers and policymakers in the Nigerian tourism industry.

Purpose of review The forest industry has deployed ICTs to improve productivity of forest supply chains. In this sense, digitalization of data flows significantly impacts wood supply chains, from forest to mills, which must react flexibly to market fluctuations of forest products. The goal of this study was to conduct a literature review on data flow implementations in management systems of wood supply chains and to evaluate their applicability in supply chains to analyze the opportunities for improving them in practice. Recent findings We utilized the ScienceDirect database, Scopus and Web of Science in order to document data flows in systems and actual applications. Due to ongoing outsourcing, the wood procurement chains, and the wood supply chains were identified in the forest industry. Several different technologies can be implemented also in wood supply chains to digitalize the data flow depending on the specific needs of organizations. In this regard, digitalization of Big Data causes significant changes in elements of supply models that should be integrated and standardized in the optimization and simulation systems. Summary A modelling guide is suggested for accurate dynamic solution of problems of forest logistics. Then, the opportunities in digitalization for connecting different data flows, technologies, and stakeholders are discussed thoroughly. We conclude that data-driven dynamic optimization, and locally implemented digitalization contributes to wood supply modeling in the establishment of standards for cloud-based platforms at time-related and sequential measures which will ensure successful forest logistics through the planning and the monitoring of wood supply chains.

Harmful algal blooms are a serious problem for humanity, so the development of tools and methods for their timely detection is an urgent task. The use of optical methods often allows scientists to solve problems of remote and automated monitoring. Temperature spectra of fluorescence can be used as distinctive features of algae, and the fluorescence parameters obtained from them can be used for identification. The paper presents a description of the fluorescence parameters of Alexandrium catenella, and shows their stability during cumulative cultivation. In addition, the cytometric properties of the culture and its pigment composition were studied. In addition, the article compares all the studied properties of this microalga with the alga Prorocentrum cordatum. We demonstrated clear differences in their fluorescence parameters, which makes it possible to distinguish these microalgae by optical methods, for example, during their dominant blooms.

Ambiguity exists over treatment and surveillance strategies after endoscopic submucosal dissec-tion (ESD) for esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN) with unfavorable histologic features. This study investigated the long-term outcomes of ESD in high-risk ESCN patients. We retro-spectively included early ESCN patients treated with ESD at two medical centers in Taiwan be-tween August 2010 and December 2023. Demographic, endoscopic, and pathological data were collected. Among 146 patients (mean age 59.17 years) with 183 lesions, 73 (50%) had a history of head and neck cancer (HNC). En bloc and R0 resection were achieved in 100% and 95.6% of the lesions, respectively. The 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and local recurrence rates were 42.7%, 94.7% and 11%. R0 resection was significantly associated with re-currence in univariate analysis (adjusted OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.05-0.99, P=0.05). Alcohol abstinence was independently associated with lower recurrence (adjusted OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.08-0.48, P

Modern climatic changes have an impact on the bearing capacity of permafrost soils at the base of the foundations of buildings and structures in the urbanized territories of the Arctic and Subarctic. The activation of cryogenic processes leads to the destruction of the infrastructure of human settlements and, as a result, to social, economic, environmental consequences for the population. Based on the results of geothermy of frozen and thawing soil, GPR profiling of the territory of the city of Anadyr, it was concluded that the main risks of permafrost degradation are associated with the spread of hydrogenic melt zones. Maps of soil temperature in imaginary cross-sectional with a depth of 3, 5 and 10 m were compiled; maps of the capacity of thawing soils and the permafrost aquifer; a map of zones of dangerous spread of exogenous cryogenic processes. A permafrost monitoring system in the territory of Anadyr has been substantiated, which will consist of an automated network of observations of soil temperature in 35 wells at the border and at the epicenter of 20 zones of dangerous development of exogenous cryogenic processes and 12 control GPR profiles at the intersection of linear hydrogenic taliks.

It is of great academic significance to understand how the atomic structure of interfaces and boundaries in materials impacts the magnetic coupling nature across the boundaries and encourage development of state-of-the-art magnetic devices. Here, we carry out a systematic investigation of the atomic and electronic structures of twin boundaries (TBs) in LiFe5O8 thin films and determine their concurrent magnetic couplings using atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomistic first-principles calculations. The results show ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic coupling can exist across the different TBs in LiFe5O8 (LFO) thin films and electrical structures within a few atomic layers directly rely on the TB atomic core structures. Uncovering one-to-one relationship between the magnetic properties of individual TB and the local atomic structures will clarify a thorough comprehension of numerous fascinating magnetic properties of commonly utilized magnetic materials, which will undoubtedly encourage the progress of sophisticated magnetic materials and devices.

The 21st century's booming population and escalating energy demands have driven significant efforts to enhance the Energy Hub (EH). The goal is to create a more intelligent and responsive system that can effectively cater to consumer needs while simultaneously improving the reliability and efficiency of contemporary energy infrastructure. The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a key enabling technology for Smart Energy Hubs (SEH). While IoT offers a plethora of innovative solutions across various sectors, including critical infrastructure, it also introduces new security challenges. Since IoT devices inherently connect to the internet, SEH systems become susceptible to a wider range of cyberattacks. This vulnerability heightens as the number of integrated IoT devices increases. A single compromised device can expose the entire hub to cyber threats. Such attacks on energy sources have the potential to cripple entire cities, resulting in significant economic devastation. Therefore, robust security measures must be implemented before the widespread adoption of IoT-based devices in energy systems. This research delves into the architecture and infrastructure of IoT-enabled SEH. Following this, the focus shifts to analyzing the primary challenges and security concerns associated with their deployment. Finally, the research emphasizes cutting-edge approaches and tools that can bolster the security and resilience of IoT-enabled SEH against contemporary physical and cyber threats. Implementing secure and advanced data transmission systems based on blockchain technology holds promise in safeguarding the entire EH from cyber-physical attacks in the future.

Although WHO declared the end of the pandemic based on the report by International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on May 4th 2023 the health authorities stresses that COVID-19 is still an ongoing health issue and especially the populations in the high-priority risk need booster doses to sustain the gains. However the vaccination rates decrease all around the world according to WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Expert’s on Immunization (SAGE). One of the main reasons of this dramatic decrease can be vaccine hesitancy or refusal. Vaccine hesitancy is defined as refusal or delay in vaccination, although there is a sufficient supply available (SAGE working group, 2014). MacDonald (2015) stated that vaccine hesitancy is higher among the people who has lack of confidence or trust both to the vaccines themselves and health authorities within the country. However hesitancy can be towards specific vaccines or selective. One of the most salient selective vaccine hesitancy is the childhood vaccine hesitancy. In the current study we examined the predictors of vaccine hesitancy for children and their parents. A total of 199 parents (age range: 26-58; Mean Age: 35) have been recruited by using an online survey. Seventy six percent of the parents who responded were mothers. Education level of the sample was relatively high; 48% of the participants had bachelor degree while %32 had postgraduate degrees. Results indicated that ruminative thinking about Covid-19 was the strongest predictor and decreased the risk for childhood vaccine hesitancy. Surprisingly, lower poor supervision predicted higher vaccine hesitancy/refusal for children. On the other hand conspiracy thoughts about the pandemic increased the refusal of COVID-19 vaccines three times. For parents conspiracy thoughts and ruminative thinking predicted vaccine hesitancy/refusal similar to the previous model. Positive parenting was found to be negatively related with vaccine hesitancy/refusal for the parents themselves. One unit increase in this variable decreased the vaccine hesitancy/refusal for almost five-folds.

An innovative superconducting mechanism was developed based on a patented discovery of room temperature superconductivity in several thorium (Th) salts or compounds. The rationale behind this discovery is through the experimental results about the unique electrical and magnetic properties of these Th salts. Accordingly, this new superconducting mechanism for these Th salts was obtained through the analyses of the compounds’ molecular configurations and the packings of their relevant crystal structures. Owing to the distinctive properties of the Th compounds in this discovery, we further established a different electron pairing scheme as opposed to the pairing of the Cooper pairs. Compared to the long distance electron pairing of the Cooper pairs, the new electron pairing in our mechanism is constructed by two closely correlated electrons that reside on the same atomic orbital of the Th cation as an electron lone pair. In this new superconducting mechanism, the Th cation is sitting on a relevant crystallographic lattice arrangement or a network of the relevant Th compounds. This network is constructed by many Th cations along certain crystallographic lattice arrangement where each Th cation contains one electron lone pair. This network allows the electron lone pairs on the Th cations to be delocalized over the network, “in pair”, and thus, reveals the electron lone pair in presence in a long distance fashion. The closely correlated electron lone pairs hop on this network and thus, construct the supercurrent over the network. This explanation about the superconductivity laid the basis for our superconducting mechanism. All these conclusions came from the previous studies about these compounds that illustrated their unusual features of a coexistence of high electrical conductivity and diamagnetism. These electrical and magnetic properties fall in line with that of superconductors but, surprisingly, these Th compounds have such properties at the ambient condition, meaning under room temperature and atmosphere pressure. We expect that this mechanism may be appropriate to be utilized to other superconducting cases, either conventional or unconventional, and therefore, can be adapted to describe the superconducting phenomenon for other superconductors.

Motivated by diffraction experiments on the $\left(2\sqrt{3}\times \sqrt{3}\right)\mathrm{R}{30}^{\circ }$ reconstructed Si(111) due to deposition of rare earth elements (Dy, Tb) and silicide formation we analyse the splitting and non-splitting of superstructure spots. For this purpose, we model diffraction patterns for one dimensional structures generated by the binary surface technique and use supercell models to keep the analysis simple. Diffraction pattern are calculated in the framework of the kinematical diffraction theory and they are analyzed as a function of the domains and domain boundaries. Basic properties of the diffraction pattern are analyzed for model systems of a two-fold and a three-fold periodicity. The rules derived from these calculations are applied to the "real-world" system of Si(111)-($\left(2\sqrt{3}\times \sqrt{3}\right)\mathrm{R}{30}^{\circ }$)-RESi$2_{}$ (RE = Dy or Tb). Depending on the combination of domains and domain boundaries of different types a plethora of different features are observed in the diffraction patterns. These are analyzed to determine the sizes of both domain boundaries and domains from experimentally observed splitting of specific superstructure spots.

The objective of this work is to analyze the improvement of heat transfer in trapezoidal fin heat exchangers using numerical simulation. Heat exchangers are essential components frequently used in contemporary electronic gadgets to effectively disperse heat produced by high-power components. Nevertheless, as electronic devices continue to advance and become more powerful, the heat transfer capacity of heat exchangers is facing more requirements, therefore requiring enhanced heat dissipation efficiency. Afterwards, various fin angles were adjusted, and the heat transmission efficiency was compared. Modifying the angles can significantly improve the effi-ciency of convective heat dissipation. Moreover, it has been found that employing an optimized trapezoidal fin structure can further enhance the efficiency of heat transfer. The results indicate that trapezoidal fin heat exchangers provide superior heat dissipation efficiency compared to conventional heat exchangers. This is important for enhancing the thermal dissipation capabili-ties of electrical gadgets, hence guaranteeing steady functionality and extending their longevity. Subsequent study might explore supplementary methods to boost heat transmission in different heat exchanger configurations in order to meet the growing requirements for heat dissipation.

Dams fragment stream habitat and fishways around dams typically serve few species that are strong swimmers or jumpers. We test a prototype wetted ramp designed to allow upstream passage of small-bodied fishes while blocking upstream movement of invasive sea lamprey in the Laurentian Great Lakes. We tested short, smooth ramps with 5-10 mm water depth in various combinations of ramp angle, water flow and swim channel width with the aim to selectively block adult migrating sea lamprey while passing sub-adult white suckers (Catostomus commersonii) and creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus). Sea lamprey easily passed a 0.75 ramp at 5 angle, but very few individuals passed a similar ramp at 10 angle and none passed a longer ramp at the 5 angle. Limiting the amplitude of tailbeats in a narrow channel did not hamper lamprey or the other species. Greater water flow, and thereby greater immersion depth on the ramp fostered passage for all species. Smaller-bodied individual of creek chubs and white suckers performed best on the ramp. We show that wetted ramps could be incorporated into fishways at low-head dams to aid passage of smaller-bodied fishes while also blocking the spawning migration of adult sea lamprey.

To date, the development of unmanned technologies using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) has become an urgent demand for solving the problem of inspection of industrial sub-sea structures. A key issue here is precise localization of AUVs relative to underwater objects. However, the well-known challenges of recognizing and coordinating underwater objects (impossibility to use GPS, undercurrents, etc.) do not allow high-precision navigation if based solely on a standard suite of AUV navigation tools (sonars, etc.). An alternative is a technology of processing of optical images that, at short distances, can provide higher accuracy of AUV navigation compared to a technology of acoustic measurement processing. In this study, in the context of the problem of subsea production system inspection, we propose a method to recognize underwater objects and provide coordinate reference of AUV to them, based on stereo-image processing. Its distinctive features are the use of a non-standard technique for generating a geometric model of an object from its views (foreshortening) taken from positions of a pre-made overview trajectory, the use of various characteristic geometric elements when recognizing objects, and the original algorithms for comparing visual data of the inspection trajectory with an a priori model of the object.

With the development of Internet, big data and artificial intelligence technology, personal information protection has become the focus of social attention. The legal boundary of data protection has become increasingly prominent, involving the collection, storage, use, transmission and disclosure of personal information. This paper aims to explore the legal boundary of data protection, analyze the legal basis, legal principles and legal provisions of personal information protection, and put forward corresponding legal suggestions, in order to provide reference for the improvement of China's data protection legal system.

In recent years, extensive research has focused on investigating rubberized concrete as a structural material due to its enhanced properties, including increased ductility, improved energy dissipation, and higher damping ratios. Additionally, rubberized concrete contributes to sustainable development by recycling non-biodegradable waste and reducing the use of natural aggregates in concrete mixtures. However, its performance in retrofitting existing structures remains unclear and requires thorough investigation before it can be widely implemented in construction activities. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the seismic performance of reinforced concrete buildings strengthened with rubberized concrete jackets under severe earthquake excitations. To achieve this, laboratory tests were conducted to assess the properties of high-performance, self-compacting rubberized concrete mixes with various rubber content levels. Additionally, finite element models of reinforced concrete retrofitted with these mixes were analyzed using nonlinear response history analysis to compare their performance against control models. The results of this experimental work indicate a significant reduction in the mechanical properties of rubberized concrete. However, there is a considerable improvement in the damping ratio, which enhances the energy dissipation capacity of the structures. This improvement contributes to an increase in damping energy and a reduction in hysteretic energy, suggesting that rubberized concrete jackets can enhance the seismic resilience of reinforced concrete buildings.

In previous studies, the authors utilized a single-dimensional operationalization of species density that implies induction of hierarchy and time with certain topologies. For further clarification of induced fractals including the relation to renormalization in physics, here a theoretical development is proposed based on a newly identified fact, namely that scaling parameters for magnetization exactly correspond to imaginary parts of Riemann zeta nontrivial zeros. An analogy to magnetization and accompanying Fake Monster Algebra is invoked to lend support to this theory, along with empirical species density data for a wild Dictyostelia community. A master torus and a Lagrangian/Hamiltonian are derived expressing fractal structures as a solution for diminishing divergent terms in renormalization.

The implementation of graphene-based electronics requires fabrication processes able to cover large device areas since exfoliation method is not compatible with industrial applications. Chemical vapor deposition of large-area graphene represents a suitable solution having the important drawback of producing polycrystalline graphene with formation of grain boundaries, which are responsible for limitation of the device performance. With these motivations, we formulate a theoretical model of graphene grain boundary by generalizing the graphene Dirac Hamiltonian model. The model only includes the long-wavelength regime of the particle transport, which provides the main contribution to the device conductance. Using symmetry-based arguments deduced from the current conservation law, we derive unconventional boundary conditions characterizing the grain boundary physics and analyze their implications on the transport properties of the system. Angle resolved quantities, such as the transmission probability, are studied within the scattering matrix approach. The conditions for the existence of preferential transmission directions are studied in relation with the grain boundary properties. The proposed theory provides a phenomenological model to study grain boundary physics within the scattering approach and represents per se an important enrichment of the scattering theory of graphene. Moreover, the outcomes of the theory can contribute in understanding and limiting detrimental effects of graphene grain boundaries also providing a benchmark for more elaborated techniques.

Grayscale Lithography (GSL) is an alternative approach to the standard Binary Lithography in MEMSfabrication, enabling the fabrication of complicated arbitrary 3D structures on the wafer, without the need for multiple masks and exposure steps. Despite its advantages, GSL’s effectiveness is highly dependent on controlled lab conditions, equipment consistency, and finely-tuned photoresist exposure and etching processes. This works presents a thorough investigation of the challenges of GSL for Silicon (Si) wafers and presents a detailed approach on how to minimize the fabrication inaccuracies, aiming to replicate the intended design as closely as possible. Utilizing a maskless laser writer, all aspects of the GSL as analyzed, from photoresist (PR) exposure parameters to Si etching conditions. A practical application of GSL is demonstrated in the fabricationof 4 μm deep Silicon Fresnel Lenses for Long Wave Infrared imaging (8-12 μm). The surface topography of a Fresnel lens is a good case to apply GSL as it has varying shapes and size features that need to be preserved.. The final fabricated lens profiles show good match with the initial design and demonstrate successful etching of coarse and fine features and demonstrating images taken with an LWIR camera.

This analysis investigates health outcomes by cause and income group across European and African countries, highlighting significant disparities tied to economic status. Low and lower-middle-income countries in Africa face a greater burden of disease, particularly in acute lower respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, bacterial infections, HIV/AIDS, and maternal conditions. This is primarily due to limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare services. In contrast, high-income African countries exhibit better health outcomes. European countries show variations: lower-middle-income nations suffer more fro4m acute respiratory infections and HIV/AIDS, while high-income countries report higher incidences of cancer and bacterial infections. These differences reflect disparities in healthcare quality and social determinants. The study emphasizes the need for targeted policy initiatives to address these disparities by focusing on socioeconomic factors and improving healthcare access and quality across all income groups.

This paper addresses the analysis for the nonlinear vibration response of a rectangular tube with a flexible end and non-rigid acoustic boundaries. This is a further work of the linear structural acoustic problem in a well-known acoustic book. In fact, the acoustic boundaries of an enclosed space sometimes are non-rigid and the structural vibration responses are nonlinear. These two points are the focuses of this paper. The multi-level residue harmonic balance method is applied to this nonlinear structural acoustic problem. The results obtained from the multi-level residue harmonic balance method and numerical method are generally in good agreement. The effects of excitation magnitude, tube length, and phase shift parameter etc. are examined.

NUMMI was one of the most analyzed case studies in terms of joint ventures, management dysfunction, and international globalization. NUMMI is an acronym for New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. This manufacturer was a joint venture between automotive US titan GM and Toyota of Japan. GM wanted to further monetize its Fremont factory, but also had limited opportunities during a US economical recession. Toyota wanted to expand manufacturing operations in the US for the very first time, creating an intriguing collaborative partnership between the two. However, various problems lead to dysfunction through cultural, organizational, or managerial differences. This case study is analyzed through its historical analogical scope, ultimately leading to hypothesizing remediation through an ethical data-driven and total quality management (TQM) approach.

As a vital component of the terrestrial ecosystem, grassland accounts for one-third of the global vegetation system. Grassland degradation has been exacerbated due to extreme overgrazing in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR). While conservation was carried out as the Ecological Subsidy and Award Program (ESAP) to mitigate grassland degradation, little is known about its effectiveness in improving the biophysical conditions of grassland. This paper integrates the conceptual frameworks of total socio-environmental systems to assess how ecological systems respond to ESAP, investigate spatial heterogeneity of ESAP, and explore the meddling effects of socio-environmental interactions on ESAP. We integrate ecological, climate, and socioeconomic data and developed several hierarchical linear mixed models (HLMM) to investigate how these factors interact with ESAP in IMAR. Our findings prove that the above-ground biomass between 2011 and 2015 responds significantly to variations in socioeconomic conditions and ecological communities. Available land resources, hospital and medical facilities, and net farmer and herdsman income are the most critical factors contributing to grassland productivity. Primary industries like mining, total consumer retail value, farming, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery productions, and GDP are the most damaging factors affecting biomass. Our study recommends a regionally or locally tailored ecological recovery policy, instead of a generalized one, in the future effort to conserve grassland.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) belong to the group of thin-film solar cells which have been extensively researched for over two decades due to their low cost of fabrication, flexibility and ability to function under low-light conditions. Some issues have to be addressed in terms of energy losses, material integration, weak photocurrent generation and stability to improve the performance of DSSCs. One of the approaches to enhance the performance of DSSCs is through luminescent materials. These are materials which can absorb light and re-emit at different wavelengths which can be used to convert ultraviolet (UV) and near infra-red (NIR) light that are not efficiently utilized by the DSSCs, into visible light that can be absorbed. The main objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive review on the impact of luminescent materials in DSSCs. Research interest in luminescent materials particularly, down conversion, up conversion and quantum dots were analyzed from the “Web of Science”. It reflected a remarkable number of over 200, 000 publications in the past decade. Therefore, the state of the art of luminescent materials for enhancing the performance of the solar cells were reviewed, which showed significant potential in enhancing the performance of DSSCs.

Background: Objective quantitative texture characteristics may be helpful in salivary glandular tumor differential diagnosis. This study uses machine learning (ML) to explore and validate the performance of ultrasound (US) texture features in diagnosing salivary glandular tumors. Material and methods: 122 patients with salivary glandular tumors, including 71 benign and 51 malignant tumors, are enrolled. A representative brightness mode US pictures are selected for further Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) texture analysis. We use t-test to test the significance and use receiver operating characteristic curve method to fund optimal cut-point for these significant features. After splitting 80% data into training set and 20% data into testing set, we use five machine learning models k-nearest Neighbors (kNN), Naïve Bayes, Logistic regression, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and supportive vector machine (SVM) to explore and validate the performance of US GLCM texture features in diagnosing salivary glandular tumors. Results: This study includes 49 female and 73 male patients, with a mean age of 53 years old, ranging from 21 to 93. We find that six GLCM texture features (contrast, inverse difference movement, entropy, dissimilarity, inverse difference and difference entropy) are significantly different between benign from malignant tumors (p<0.05). On ML, the overall accuracy rates are 74.3% (95%CI: 59.8-88.8%), 94.3% (86.6-100%), 72% (54-89%), 84% (69.5-97.3%) and 73.5% (58.7-88.4%) for kNN, Naïve Bayes, Logistic regression, one node ANN and SVM, respectively. Conclusion: US texture analysis with ML has potential as an objective and valuable tool for assessment of salivary gland tumors.

Many drastic actions are taken by cocaine users for the sake of experiencing high dopamine levels, which depends on iron for its synthesis. Dopamine depletion and iron deficiency are also involved in the symptoms of restless leg syndrome (RLS). The intersecting biochemical pathways of cocaine use, iron deficiency, and RLS have not been adequately investigated. This case report reveals the successful treatment of a patient with these conditions. A 63-year-old male with a history of cocaine use disorder, insomnia, and RLS sought emergency care for suicidality. Upon admission, he was also found to be iron-deficient. He revealed that his RLS worsened when he attempted to abstain from cocaine. He also used alcohol to sustain the effects of cocaine when the cost of cocaine was too high. During hospitalization, his mood, cravings, and RLS were resolved with adjunctive iron supplementation as well as 300 mg of Wellbutrin. If iron-deficient, replenishment of adequate dopaminergic receptor density and function via supplementation may play an essential role in the prevention of cocaine use and cessation of cocaine withdrawal. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and understand the implications of iron supplementation in addiction medicine.

The present study aimed to undertake a detailed investigation of pathological epidemiology and molecular confirmation of Ehrlichia canis among pet dogs in smart city Bhubaneswar, Odisha, a state in eastern India. A total of 178 dogs were screened for Ehrlichiosis on the basis of history, clinical signs, blood, and buffy coat smear examination, resulting in only 56 dogs (31.46%) screening positive. The epidemiological study recorded an increase in incidences among dogs less than one year of age (41%), males (68%), German Shepherds (25%), dogs more than 20 kg body weight (75%), summer months (55%) and dogs housed on pukka houses with exposure to the outside (59%). The majority of the infected dogs had a history of tick infestation (79%) at some point in their life. Clinical signs showed non-typical manifestations like fever, lethargy, diarrhoea, epistaxis, hind limb edema, and corneal opacity. Haematological studies revealed anaemia and thrombocytopenia along with neutrophilia with relative lymphopenia and monocytosis. A decreasing trend was observed in the levels of total protein and albumin with an increase in the levels of globulin, AST, ALT, BUN, and creatinine. The ultrasonography studies revealed hepatosplenomegaly along with hyper-echogenicity in various organs. Pro-teinuria and haematuria were consistent, along with the presence of bile salts in the urine of affected dogs. Molecular confirmation from n-type PCR data using Ehrlichia-specific primers targeting p28 gene (843 bp) was done, and the identified gene sequences submitted to NCBI databases have accession numbers OQ383671-OQ383674 and OP886674-OP886677. Ticks collected from dogs were identified morphologically through microscopy and scanning electron microscopy as Rhipicephalus sanguineus.

Determining precise boundaries and protective zones for historical and cultural objects enables their effective preservation. This is particularly crucial in the face of increasing tourism, urbanization, and natural disasters. Accurately defining boundaries and protective zones can aid in the planning of scientific research, archaeological excavations, and other studies aimed at exploring the history and cultural significance of these objects. The article presents the framework for establishing protective zones around historical and cultural heritage sites existing in Ukraine, using the example of the Citadel defensive complex located in Lviv (Ukraine). It proposes general and detailed conceptual models for the combined application of remote and non-invasive methods for investigating historical and cultural heritage sites. This conceptual article introduces the theory of integrating radar satellite imaging with ground-based georadar imaging. Additionally, it presents a software module that has been developed to analyze collected data on two-dimensional historical and cultural heritage objects, refine their boundaries, and establish protective zones around them.

Background/Objectives: The latest WHO classification underscores the importance of the complete blood count (CBC) and cell morphology assessment in diagnosing lymphoid neoplasms. This study evaluated the diagnostic role of Research Use Only (RUO) parameters from the BC-6800 Plus Mindray analyzer in differentiating cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and other lymphoproliferative disorders. Methods: CBCs were performed on 90 patients (66% male, median age 67 years) with pathological blood counts (ALL, n=14; CLL, n=47; other lymphoproliferative disorders, n=29) at Novara’s University Hospital. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression assessed the association of basic (WBC, Hb, RDW, NE#, LY#, MO#, PLT) and research cell parameters (NLR, NMR, LMR, NeuX, NeuY, NeuZ, LymX, LymY, LymZ, MonX, MonY, MonZ). Results: In multivariable analysis, Hb (p=0.02), NeuY (p=0.04), and MonY (p=0.01) independently predicted CLL versus ALL, correctly classifying 93.4% of cases (AUC 0.91, 95% CI 0.81-1.0). MO# (p=0.003), LymY (p<0.0001), and MonY (p=0.004) were independent predictors of CLL versus other lymphoproliferative disorders, classifying 77.6% of cases (AUC 0.86, 95% CI 0.78-0.95). NeuZ (p=0.01) and NeuY (p=0.04) independently predicted ALL versus other lymphoproliferative disorders, classifying 93% of cases (AUC 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-1.0). Conclusions: The use of RUO parameters offers valuable, cost-effective support in the early diagnosis of ALL, CLL, and other lymphoproliferative disorders.

The identification of a new virus Kiparis-144 (KiparisV) in a half-fed tick I persulcatus, removed from a person in the south of the Russian Far East, determined the goal of further research - to study its role in human pathology and the characteristics of its behavior in the tick microbiome. An ELISA study of 439 blood samples from people affected by tick bites indicated a fairly frequent (up to 16.4±1.7%) encounter of people with the KiparisV virus in the territory of natural foci of the Primorsky Territory. It has been shown that this virus, when mono-infected, can cause clinical symptoms characteristic of acute respiratory diseases. During co-infection under the influence of the KiparisV, there was an increase in the activity of Borrelia spp. with the constant production of antibodies to them only of the IgM class and clinical symptoms of Lyme disease for one year (observation period). Electron microscopy of the KiparisV found in a tick removed from a patient showed a picture of the relationship of the KiparisV (up to 100 nm in size) with unknown representatives of the tick microbiome - pathogens of a viral or bacterial nature. In a comparative aspect, a similar electron microscopic picture of the interaction of the KiparisV virus with a known pathogen of viral nature, the ectromelia virus (ECTV), is presented. The importance of the electron microscopy method in describing the tick microbiome is shown. Thus, it has been established that when co-cultivated in the system the helper-virus KiparisV probably tends to use another pathogen of the tick microbiome for its reproduction, influencing its pathogenicity.

The paper considers two models of queuing with a varying structure based on the introduction of additional transient intensities into known models or their combinations, which create stationary distributions convenient for calculation. In the first model, it is a probabilistic mixture of known stationary distributions with given weights. In the second model, this uniform distribution is repeatedly used in physical statistics. Both models are based on the selection of states, between which additional transient intensities are introduced. The algorithms used in the paper for introducing new transient intensities are closely related to the concept of flow in a deterministic transport network. The introduced controls are selected so that the marginal distribution of the combined system is a mixture of the marginal distributions of the combined systems with different weights determined by the introduced transient intensities. As a result, the process of functioning of the combined system is obtained by switching processes corresponding to different combined systems at certain points in time.

Sepsis is a pervasive condition that affects individuals of all ages, with significant social and economic consequences. Early diagnosis of sepsis is fundamental for establishing appropriate treatment and is based on warning scores and clinical characteristics, with positive microbiological cultures being the gold standard. Research has yet to identify a single biomarker to meet this diagnostic demand. Presepsin is a molecule that has the potential as a biomarker for diagnosing sepsis. In this paper, we present a narrative review of the diagnostic and prognostic performance of presepsin in different age groups. Given its particularities, it is identified that presepsin is a potential biomarker for sepsis at all stages of life.

We present new results in positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), thermo-optical dilatometry and microscopy, which are indicating a strong correlation between grain-boundaries and mass transport during the sintering process of carbonyl iron powder. In this particular system we were able to show that the change in particle shape and size with increasing temperature yields an anisotropy in shrinkage, which manifests itself in a higher shrinkage perpendicular to the compaction axis. In the intermediate stage of sintering, where the major mass transport occurs, the average distance between two grain boundaries could be determined to (3,73 ± 0,18) μm at T = 744°C. This is in good agreement with previous calculations of positron pathways in defect free particles. Furthermore, due to sintering temperatures far above the annealing temperature of dislocations in iron, the existence of dislocations in the bulk of the particles is very unlikely. These claims are reflected by the collected positron data, which exhibit a clear grain boundary signal of ∼ 250ps while no vacancy or dislocation signal (typically ∼ 160 ps) is evident in the intermediate stage of sintering.

Multiple social and environmental justice concerns are linked to urban form such as the distribution of socioeconomic class populations, healthcare spending, air pollution exposure, and human mobility. This study used 1m resolved LIDAR data to characterize land use in Salt Lake County, Utah and associate it with sociodemographic and air quality data at the census block group and zip code levels. We found that increasing tree cover was associated with higher per capita income and lower minority populations while increasing built cover was linked to lower per capita income and higher minority populations. Air quality showed less strong correlations, however, decreased non irrigated cover, increased built cover, and higher amounts of households living under poverty was related to higher long-term PM2.5 exposure. Several policy efforts have been undertaken to improve air quality and reduce negative health outcomes in Utah which are being informed by regulatory and research grade air quality sensors.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a kind of conserved small non-coding RNAs that participate in regulating gene expression by targeting multiple molecules. Early studies have shown that the expression of miRNAs changes significantly in different tumor tissues and cancer cell lines. It is well acknowledged that such variation is involved in almost all biological processes, including cell proliferation, mobility, survival and differentiation. Increasing experimental data indicate that miRNA dysregulation is a biomarker of several pathological conditions including cancer, and that miRNA can exert a causal role, as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, in different steps of the tumorigenic process. Anticancer therapies based on miRNAs are currently being developed with a goal to improve outcomes of cancer treatment. In our present study, we review the function of miRNAs in tumorigenesis and development, and discuss the latest clinical applications and strategies of therapy targeting miRNAs in cancer.

Cellular biomolecular condensates termed ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules often are enriched in messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules relative to the surrounding cytoplasm. Yet, the spatial localization and diffusion of mRNAs in close proximity to phase separated RNP granules is not well understood. In this study, we performed single molecule fluorescence imaging experiments of mRNAs in live cells in the presence of two types of RNP granules, stress granules (SG) and processing bodies (PB), which are distinct in their molecular composition and function. We developed a photobleaching- and noise-corrected colocalization imaging algorithm that was employed to determine the accurate positions of individual mRNAs relative to the granule’s boundaries. We found that mRNAs are often localized at granule boundaries, an observation consistent with recently published data. We suggest that mRNA molecules become spontaneously confined at the RNP granule boundary similar to the adsorption of polymer molecules at liquid-liquid interfaces, which is observed in various technological and biological processes. We also suggest that this confinement could be due to a combination of intermolecular interactions associated with, first, the screening of a portion of the RNP granule interface by the polymer and, second, electrostatic interactions due to a strong electric field induced by a Donnan potential generated across the thin interface.

Background/Objectives: The global push to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) as a public health threat is in-creasingly urgent, particularly in high-burden areas like O.R. Tambo District Municipality, South Africa. Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) poses a significant challenge to TB control efforts and is a leading cause of TB-related deaths. This study aimed to assess DR-TB transmission patterns and predict future cases using geospatial and predictive modeling techniques. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted across five decentralized DR-TB facilities in O.R. Tambo District Municipality from January 2018 to De-cember 2020. Data were obtained from Statistics South Africa, and patient GPS coordinates were used to identify clusters of DR-TB cases via DBSCAN clustering. Hot Spot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi) was performed, and two predictive models (Linear Regression and Random Forest) were developed to estimate future DR-TB cases. Analyses were conducted using Python 3.8 and R 4.1.1, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 456 DR-TB patients were enrolled, with 56.1% males and 43.9% females. The mean age was 37.5 (±14.9) years. The incidence of DR-TB was 11.89 cases per 100,000 population, with males dispropor-tionately affected. Key risk factors included poverty, lack of education, and occupational exposure. DR-TB types included RR-TB (60%), MDR-TB (30%), Pre-XDR-TB (5%), XDR-TB (3%), and INHR-TB (2%). Spatial analysis revealed significant clustering in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. A major cluster was identified, along with a distinct outlier. Predictive models indicated differing trends, with the Random Forest model predicting stabilization at 30 cases per year by 2022, while the Linear Regression model projected a decline to zero by 2026. Conclusions: The study highlights the need for targeted interventions in vulnerable populations to curb DR-TB transmission and improve treatment outcomes.

Environmental monitoring programs rely on periodic spot sampling at specific locations, followed by laboratory analysis, aiming at the evaluation of water quality at a catchment scale. For this purpose, automatic telemetric stations for specific parameters have been installed by the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters of Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (IMBRIW-HCMR) within several Greek rivers and lakes, providing continuous and temporal monitoring possibilities. Nevertheless, the employment of unmanned surface vehicles (USV) equipped with integrated sensors represents a tool valuable to several monitoring strategies, offering enhanced temporal and spatial coverage over specific timeframes, allowing for targeted examination of sites or events of interest. The USVs have been deployed by Athens Water and Sewerage Company (EYDAP) as a cost-effective tool for the environmental monitoring of surface water bodies of interest, with emphasis on the spatial fluctuations of chlorophyllα, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH, observed in Koumoundourou Lake and rivers Acheloos, Asopos and Kifissos. The effectiveness of an innovative heavy metal (HM) system installed in the USV for thein situ determination of copper and lead was also evaluated herewith. The results obtained demonstrate that both the timely detection of potential pollution from both anthropogenic activities and natural processes as well as the monitoring of inland waters are made feasible through the employment of USV.

The high performance of liquid chromatography(HPLC) has long been an indispensable tool for vigilance and analysis across range disciplines such as pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring, food safety attributes etc. We will discuss about HPLC method development and validation, types of liquid chromatography methods focusing on proper use of a mobile phase like an eluent selection, how to optimize the conditions as well take it through its various procedures required for approval from regulatory bodies. Strategies to improve method robustness, sensitivity and reproducibility are highlighted. The future breakthroughs in HPLC technology and some innovative trends have also been speculated to limit this fundamental methodology.

Faced with increasing climate challenges, this pioneering study introduces groundbreaking approaches to ensure the resilience of potato crops in east-central Poland. Our research aimed to develop an innovative, cost-effective system tailored to the diverse local conditions of this region. Conducted between 2018 and 2020, the study analyzed integrated and organic production systems across different soil types and potato varieties. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with three replications in two locations. Integrated practices, enhanced by mineral fertilization and chemical protection, notably delayed the onset of late blight by 16 days and extended the critical infection period by 17% compared to their organic counterparts. Remarkably, the integrated systems resulted in a 49% increase in total production and a 52% increase in commercial yields, demonstrating their effectiveness in enhancing crop resilience. Different potato varieties exhibit varied responses to cultivation systems, influencing both yield and disease resistance. Further investigation into these varietal responses can help optimize cultivation practices, leading to improved efficiency and sustainability in potato farming. Location and soil conditions have a significant impact on potato yield and the spread of potato blight. Further research into specific soil properties and the adaptation of varieties to local conditions can contribute to increased productivity and stability in potato production. This study not only paves the way towards sustainable agriculture but also highlights the crucial role of soil diversity in shaping resilient farming practices.

The upwelling phenomenon plays a vital role within marine ecosystems, transporting essential nutrients from the bottom to the surface and boosting biological productivity. However, the bacterial community structure in upwelling zones along Western coast of India (WCI) is under-studied. This research systematically examines bacterial diversity across three sea-sons—Pre-monsoon (PR), Monsoon (MN), and Post-monsoon (PM)—using next-generation se-quencing. Our findings show distinct spatial patterns of bacterial communities in the Arabian Sea and demonstrate that ecological variations influence bacterial distribution in this dynamic envi-ronment. During MN, the bacterial community was notably distinct and diverse than during PR and PM, despite their lower abundance in MN. Non-Metric MDS cluster analysis revealed a 78% similarity (at order level) between PR and PM, indicating MN supports unique bacterial diversi-ty. KEGG analysis showed significant seasonal variations in metabolic functions, with increased functional potential during MN. Additionally, Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes) analy-sis revealed distinct seasonal profiles, among which the GH13 enzymes were the most prevalent glycoside hydrolases during MN; predominantly sucrose phosphorylase and glucosidase, known for breaking down glucan deposits derived from phytoplankton. The CAZymes profiles sup-ported taxonomic and KEGG pathway findings, reinforcing that microbial communities are sea-sonally distinct and functionally adapted to changing availability of nutrients.

The accuracy of cosmic ray observation by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory Wide Field-of-view Cherenkov/fluorescence Telescope Array (LHAASO-WFCTA) is influenced by variations in aerosols in the atmosphere. The solar photometer (CE318-T) is extensively utilized within the Aerosol Robotic Network as a highly precise and reliable instrument for aerosol measurements. With this CE318-T 23, 254 sets of valid data samples in 394 days from October 2020 to October 2022 at the LHAASO site were obtained. Data analysis revealed that the baseline Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and A˚ngstro¨m Exponent (AE) at 440-870 nm (AE440−870nm) of the aerosols were calculated to be 0.03 and 1.07, respectively, suggesting that the LHAASO site is among the most pristine regions on Earth. The seasonality of the mean AOD are the order of spring &gt; summer &gt; autumn = winter. The monthly average maximum of AOD440nm occurred in April (0.11 ± 0.05) and the minimum was in December (0.03 ± 0.01). The monthly average of AE440−870nm exhibited slight variations. The seasonal characterization of aerosol types indicated that clean continental background aerosol predominated in autumn and winter, which is the optimal period for the absolute calibration of the WFCTA. Additionally, the diurnal daytime variations of AOD and AE across the four seasons are presented. Our analysis also indicates that the potential origins of aerosol over the LHAASO in four seasons were different and the atmospheric aerosols with higher AOD probably originate mainly from Northern Myanmar and Northeast India region. These results provide a baseline for comparison to the future on-site measurement of extinction coefficient profile and aerosol phase function by LHAASO-WFCTA, also enrich the valuable materials on aerosol observation in the Hengduan Mountains and Tibetan Plateau.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a carcinogenic toxin, mainly contaminates cow milk and poses significant challenges to the dairy industry and, thereby, public health in most tropical countries, including Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and level of AFM1 in raw cow milk collected from Specialized Dairy Farms and Milk Vendors in three Urban Centers: Chiro town, Dire Dawa, and Harar cities in Eastern Ethiopia. 180 milk samples were collected from two major Milk Sources: Specialized Dairy Farms (N=90) and Milk Vendors (N=90) using a simple random sampling technique. AFM1 was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The study revealed that, 63.9% (115/810) prevalence and 0.179±0.48µg/L mean of AFM1 level in milk, which 39.13% and 26.08% exceed the tolerable limits of EU and FDA respectively. A 40.0% prevalence and 0.344±0.72µg/L average of AFM1 in the milk from Dire Dawa city was significantly higher than the samples from other Urban Centers. However, 30.43% and 29.57% prevalence as well as 0.055±±0.13µg/L and 0.140±0.33µg/L average of AFM1 in milk from Chiro town and Harar city, respectively were not significant. Furthermore, milk samples from Dairy Farms revealed a higher prevalence (57.39%) and level (0.252±0.64µg/L) of AFM1 than Milk Vendors, with a prevalence of 42.61% and an average of 0.107±0.21µg/L. Therefore, this study concludes that substantial milk samples were contaminated by AFM1 and urges the need to enhance farmers' awareness on mitigation.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) brought about significant opportunities and challenges in educational environment. It is disputable whether the application of AI to education is beneficial or not regarding human learning and teaching. This study aims at exploring the implications of the evolving educational landscape by comparing and discussing human and AI learning processes. Even though AI is not a conscient agent, it does not spell out any words randomly but provide meaningful texts with any reasoning. It helps us to understand human learning better by comparing learning in biological and artificial intelligences. Moreover, the new concepts in learning in AI come about the change of learning paradigm such as connectionism/connectivism. After all, AI will empower the abilities of learning and teaching for students as well as teachers. This study will give some implications for the future education with AI.

Farmland edge plants can support high butterfly richness. Our objective was determine if, even in farms under intensive cultivation, the diversity of plants (mostly native) in crop edges is enough to sustain a high species richness of butterfly. We characterized the vegetation on the edges of Medicago sativa farms in central Mexico and identified the species of diurnals butterflies (Rhopalocera) associated. Butterflies and plants were counted along transects at the edges of a cul-tivated field during 24 months. We found 2710 individuals of plants, belonging to 48 different species from 24 families; 1749 individuals of diurnal butterflies, belonging to 57 species from six families. Most than half of the plant species found were native flora of central Mexico and with ethnobotanical use. A similarity analysis test showed significant differences in floristic composi-tion between transects. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis between butterfly species and plant families showed three groups. Six butterfly species were migratory and four mexican en-demic species, most of them associated with a group formed by Amaranthaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Annonaceae Lamiaceae Apiaceae and Fabaceae families. The high diversity of plants in our agro-ecosystem plays an important role to sustain a high diversity of butterflies and could be useful as biological corridors.

The Eastern Kunlun Fault Zone (EKFZ) is located in a seismic blank area. This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of varied-temperature springs in the EKFZ to understand the relationship between fractures, fluids and earthquakes. It aids in establishing their induction mechanisms and assists in monitoring the earthquake precursors of the EKFZ. In this study, the main elements, trace elements, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and strontium isotopes of 23 varied-temperature springs in the EKFZ were analyzed. The results reveal the source of groundwater recharge, hydrochemical types, mineral saturation, and for a select few springs indicative of geothermal activity, collected geothermal reservoir temperatures. The study also explores the relationship between earthquakes and springs, identifying sensitive chemical indicators. Based on continuous monitoring at Maqu Station, we found that before the occurrence of the Maerkang Ms 6.0 earthquake, the concentration of Cl− rose by 2.9 times, and 46 days before the Gande earthquake (Ms = 4.7), the concentrations of Na+ and SO42− significantly increased. Finally, a conceptual model of the hydrogeochemistry of springs is presented to describe the groundwater circulation in the study area. This research is of great significance for the analysis of fluid geochemistry in this area and for assessing the seismic hazards of the EKFZ.

This study investigated the characteristics and outcomes of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients in selected rural healthcare facilities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A retrospective review of clinical records from 456 patients, covering the period from January 2018 to December 2020, revealed that a statistically significant relationship between DR-TB types and age groups (Chi-square statistic: 30.74, p-value: 0.015). Younger adults (19-35 years) and middle-aged adults (36-50 years) are more frequently affected by RR-TB and MDR-TB, which are the most prevalent forms of DR-TB. Less common types, including Pre-XDR, XDR, and INH TB, were observed in smaller numbers. The study suggests that DR-TB imposes a heavy burden on the working-age population. Gender analysis shows that while the frequency of DR-TB differs between males and females, the percentage distribution of DR-TB types is relatively equal. Both genders are predominantly affected by RR-TB and MDR-TB, which together account for nearly 90% of cases. Pre-XDR, XDR, and INH-resistant TB are much less common, comprising only a small percentage of cases in both males and females. High-risk behaviors such as smoking and drinking are linked to a wider diversity of DR-TB types, while occupations like mining and prison work show higher rates of RR-TB and MDR-TB. In HIV-positive individuals, DR-TB is more common, but the distribution of DR-TB types between HIV-positive and negative groups shows no statistically significant difference. However, HIV-positive individuals have a 20% lower survival rate (65%) compared to HIV-negative patients (85%). Financial stability and comorbidities also significantly influence outcomes, with patients having stable income and fewer high-risk comorbidities experiencing better survival and treatment outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities and strengthening healthcare infrastructure to improve DR-TB treatment outcomes in rural Eastern Cape.

Aims: To investigate the road safety concerns associated with pet dogs in New Zealand. Methods: An online survey was developed and offered to New Zealanders via SurveyMonkey© from 8 January 2019 to 31 March 2019) using New Zealand residents aged ≥18 years. Questions about the demographics of respondents and their number of pet dogs along with those about dog transportation and dog roaming were asked. Results: Of 2744 respondents who completed the online survey, 1494 (65%) owned a dog. Of these, 1511 completed the question about how their dog or dogs travel in vehicles. Of these, 2 % (n = 29) let their dog sit on the driver's knee, and 12 % (n = 179) allowed their dog to sit on the passenger's knee. Only 7 % (n = 105) allowed the dog to roam free throughout the vehicle, while 44% (n = 663) allowed their dogs to roam free in the backseat area only and 19% (n = 280) put their dog in the boot/hatchback area. A minority of respondents (2%, n = 22) indicated they let their dog travel unrestrained on the deck of a ute or truck. Approximately half, 51% (n = 767) of the respondents, indicated that they restrained or crated their dogs in or on the vehicle. Respondents also expressed concerns about roaming dogs being a road safety hazard with the themes of responsible ownership, physical and psychological harm, and the dangers of rescue altruism emerging. Conclusions: Increased awareness about proper pet restraints during transportation and preventing dogs from roaming, especially near and on roads, is crucial to ensure traffic safety for humans and dogs.

In recent years, in addition to the commonly known wire-based processes of Directed Energy Deposition using lasers, a process variant using the electron beam has also developed to industrial market maturity. The process offers particular potential for processing highly conductive, reflective or oxidation-prone materials. However, for industrial usage there is a lack of comprehensive data on performance, process limits and possible applications. The present study deals with this problem using the example of the high-strength aluminum bronze CuAl8Ni6. Multi-stage test welds are used to determine the physically possible process limits and draw conclusions about the suitability of the parameters for additive manufacturing. For this purpose, optimal ranges for energy input, possible welding speeds and the scalability of the process were investigated. Finally, additive test specimens in the form of cylinders and walls are produced and the hardness profile, microstructure and mechanical properties are investigated. It is found that the material CuAl8Ni6 can be well processed by wire electron beam additive manufacturing. The microstructure is similar to a cast structure, the hardness profile over the height of the specimens is constant and the tensile strength and elongation at fracture values achieved correspond to the specification of the raw material.

The Haar wavelet decomposition technique is used to detect the planetary magnetosphere boundaries and discontinuities. We use the magnetometer data from the CASSINI and MESSENGER spacecraft to identify the abrupt changes in the magnetic field when the spacecraft crossed the magnetospheric bow shocks and magnetopauses of Saturn and Mercury, respectively. The results confirm that the Haar transform can efficiently identify the planetary magnetosphere boundaries characterized by the abrupt magnetic field changes. It is suggested that this technique can be applied to detect the planetary boundaries as well as the discontinuities such as the shock waves in the interplanetary space.

Cable interference in cable-driven mechanisms (CDM) is a major challenge in their applications. The wrench closure workspace (WCW) in a fully constrained mechanism may not be realized unless cable interference is considered. This paper classifies all possible types of cable interferences for planar cable-driven mechanisms and presents an analytical solution to find the boundaries of the constant-orientation interference region. It is shown that interference between cables starts and ends when one end of a cable coincides with another cable which can be thought as lying a point on a line segment. This geometrical view is developed and applied to provide a framework for the analysis of cable interference. By subtracting the interference space form WCW, the interference-free workspace is obtained in which the robot is able to operate.

Vernonia mespilifolia is widely used in folk medicine in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological activity of the acetone, aqueous and ethanol extracts of Vernonia mespilifolia using brine shrimp hatchability and lethality assay. The result showed hatching success in this order: aqueous extract (48.6%) > acetone extract (38.2%) > ethanol extract (26.8%). The LC₅₀ of the lethality assay were in this order: acetone extract (67.8 µg/mL) > aqueous extract (132 µg/mL) > ethanol extract (383 µg/mL). According to Meyer’s toxicity index (using brine shrimps), LC₅₀ < 1000 µg/ mL is toxic. Therefore, the results of the three solvent extracts could be said to be toxic as do have LC₅₀ < 1000 µg/ mL. However, the toxicity of the crude extracts could suggest or confer some antitumor properties, hence further in vitro, in vivo and antitumour assays are recommended to further substantiate these claims.

Open-pit uranium mining in the south Texas Gulf Coast region was active during the second half of the 20th century. Although some mines have extensive records documenting the locations and extents with descriptions of reclamation procedures and timelines, abandoned and reclaimed mines with minimal documentation concurrently exist where little is known about locations, mine waste volumes, and reclamation status. Advanced mapping of these mining operations is helpful for producing basic mine land inventories and assessments of mine waste; identifying potential undeveloped resources and environmental health issues; and for developing proper management, restoration, and reclamation strategies. We studied known reclaimed and unreclaimed mine sites to develop a spatiotemporal mapping approach utilizing multiple techniques in remote sensing as a proof of concept. A mapping classification system was developed to identify uranium mine waste-rock piles, mine pits (with and without waste water), the total area of land disturbance due to mining, and to differentiate abandoned and reclaimed mine features using lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) analysis and multispectral temporal analysis. Visual interpretation of Landsat imagery and time-series analysis revealed the temporal life-cycle of mining, historical areas of disturbance, and reclamation; however, mine features below vegetation canopies are not always visible in satellite imagery. Lidar laser scanning penetrates the vegetation canopy to measure the topographic elevation and exposes anthropogenic modifications to the landscape. Lidar analysis (bare earth elevation surface, slope, topographic contours, topographic textures, and overland-flow hydrography) revealed mine features, and expansive areas of mining disturbance. The spatiotemporal mapping approach proved to be useful for identifying and characterizing known mine features, areas of disturbance, and reclamation status. Historical pre-mining topographic data were available at only 4 of the mines for comparison where the cut-and-fill tool estimated 21% less waste-rock volume, indicating that information about pre-mining terrain topography and/or subsurface mine waste geometry is needed to improve accuracies for quantifying buried mine waste volume at reclaimed mine sites.

Residual sugars (RS) in wine are the sugars that remain in a wine after fermentation is complete. In some wine styles, such as semi-dry wines, the accurate measurement of the RS concentration is critical for both qualitative and legislative reasons. Brix, measured by a simple refractometer, can give a good estimation of the RS concentration in the must, but during fermentation, the presence of alcohol leads to inaccurate sugar measurements. In order to measure the RS accurately, other more precise techniques are used, most of which are expensive or require professional skills. Therefore, novel approaches for rapid, easy, and practical measurements for estimating the sugar content were suggested over the years. However, most of these methods do not supply an actual measurement of RS but rather give brix values, and those that measure RS involve special equipment, which is less relevant for small wineries. This study suggests a novel model for predicting and controlling the wine's residual sugar. The data the model uses is the initial brix of the must before fermentation and its density during fermentation. The model was created by measuring actual residual sugars during the fermentation of natural and synthetic musts, with various degrees of initial brix levels, while simultaneously measuring their densities and correlating the two measurements. Linear regression between the residual sugar of the wine and its density was obtained for all treatments and repetitions (i.e., different values of must initial brix) with R² values above 0.97. Using the model, one can calculate (before commencing the fermentation) the density values at which the fermentation will reach a particular desired residual sugar value for a specific initial brix level; the model is applicable for the fermentation conditions used in this work, i.e., brix levels of 18-27˚Bx, Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (fx-33 and fx-10) in common conditions of fermentation regarding temperature and aeration.

Purpose: Post-pandemic management of COVID-19 infections and any emergent outbreaks is as an endemic disease remains a public health concern. Vaccine hesitancy may continue to hamper efforts to respond any new disease outbreaks and future epidemics. This qualitative study aimed to explore factors influencing covid-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in Kenya too gain deeper insights on this issue. Methods: The study was implemented in Western Kenya using key informant interviews. Fourteen (14) key informants were purposively selected for the study. All interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Interpretation of findings was done within the framework of the Health Belief Model. Key findings: Knowledge was a critical factor in combatting misinformation and fostering vaccine acceptance among participants in this study. Misinformation included rumors that the vaccine lowers immunity and was intended for population control. Cues to action included influence from political and opinion leaders and observing the loss of life among unvaccinated individuals. Perceived barriers to vaccine uptake included fear of vaccine safety, side effects, long waiting times at that time of our study, fear of contracting the COVID-19 at vaccination sites, family/spousal influence on vaccine uptake and fear of the unknown with the vaccine. Conclusion: Findings from this study provides insight into areas for targeted strategies for managing Covid-19 vaccinations and future pandemics. Within the framework of the Health Belief Model, this study identified salient barriers and facilitators of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy that may be helpful to inform future pandemic response.

In eastern part of Ethiopia groundnut is very commonly intercropped with sorghum. Even though intercropping of sorghum with groundnut is practiced in the eastern part of Ethiopia the population density at what ratio should not be known. Therefore determining the population ratio is found to be crucial to draw management options. The study was conducted at two locations at Fadis (on station) and Babile (sub- station). Sorghum variety (Teshale) and groundnut (Fetene) were used as planting materials. All agronomic data were collected and analyzed by using GenStat software. Significant different were obtained among the treatments. The research result showed that, there were significance difference for both sorghum and ground nut yield per hectare in the years (2014 and 2015) among treatments. The result over time(in 2014 and 2015) at Fadis and Erer showed that the highest sorghum and groundnut yield per hectare were obtained/harvested from the intra row spacing of 25cmx20cm and 30cmx20cm intercropping sorghum with ground nut system with (1.27 and 1.31) respectively. The highest LER (1.31) and highest GMV (10218.00 ETBr/ha) were obtained from the intercropping of 30cmx20cm (Sorghum & groundnut). Clearly showed that, with intercropping of sorghum and Groundnut, it is possible to produce additional yield of sorghum without significant reduction in groundnut yield. As a result of this, the intra spacing of the main crop (sorghum) 25cm and 30cm and for the subsidiary crop (groundnut) 20cm was recommended for further production in the study areas of eastern Harerghe zone and similar agro-ecologies.

Climate change presents an urgent global challenge, manifesting in rising temperatures and extreme weather events with severe societal impacts. The Eastern Mediterranean, warming faster than the global average, faces immediate repercussions. Climate literacy emerges as pivotal, empowering individuals to comprehend climate science and act accordingly. This study delves into climate literacy, attitudes, and 'greening' behaviours in the Eastern Mediterranean hotspot of Greece, based on a survey of 1,962 citizens. Findings indicate high climate literacy but lower adoption of 'greening' behaviours, especially those involving financial costs. Regression analyses highlight the significant role of climate literacy, concerns about personal impacts, coping appraisal and trust in institutions in promoting 'greening' behaviours. The study underscores the need for multifaceted strategies emphasizing financial motivation, trust-building, and societal norm shifts. Socio-demographic disparities, including gender and occupation, highlight areas for targeted interventions. The emphasis on the mental health impacts of climate-related events underscores the need for holistic disaster management. Policy implications are discussed, highlighting the potential of expanded climate literacy to catalyze collective action toward sustainability.

Food insecurity is a multidimensional concept adequately challenging not only the complex operationalization effort but also judgments of who is food secure and who is not. This study aimed to assess the level of household food insecurity in the study area. Both probability and non-probability sampling procedures were employed to draw the 367 respondents, key informants, and focus group discussants. The Consolidated Approach for Reportig Indicators (CARI) console model was constructed with four indicators: Food consumption score, Food energy shortfall, Food expenditure share, and Livelihood asset depletion. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data in the models. The CARI result revealed that 41.1%, 9.3%, 20.4% and 29.2% of households were food secure, marginally food secure, moderately food insecure and severely food insecure, respectively. The overall prevalence showed that 49.6% households were food insecure and 50.4% were food secure. Moreover, female-headed households and households living the Belg and CHV livelihood zones were more food insecure than their counterparts. The study concluded that the problem of food insecurity is pervasive in the study area in general and Belg and CHV livelihood zones, in particular. Therefore, more attention and intervention should be given by policymakers and concerned development partners to alleviate the problem.

Knowledge about the genesis and evolution of black soils in the Eastern Mediterranean is vital for sustainable land management. In this study, the black soils that currently occur in the Eastern Mediterranean were analyzed in different bioclimatic zones and were found to genetically be long to three soil types: 1-Calcareous black soils (Rendzina, Para-Rendzina) (Rendzic or Somerirendzic Leptosols -Typic Rendolls or Lithic Rendolls), 2-Hydromorphic black soils (Calcic Chernozems -Haploxerolls). 3- Black soils on Basalt (Somerirendzic Leptosols) (Haploxerolls). The impact of the relief was obvious on both the thickness of the solum and the mollic horizon. Rendzina occurs on the toe and feet slope, Para-Rendzina on the shoulders, and Chernozems on a flat plain. The color of the epipedon in Rendzina reflects the origin of the prevailing parent material from which they are derived: Proper Rendzina found on limestone, chalk, sandstone, conglomerate, and claystone; Reddish Rendzina on Dolomite and hard limestone, and Grayish Rendzina on Serpentine. It was also found that the Hydromorphic black soils only occur on calcic marl and lacustrine deposits in the depressions arising from the Dead Sea faults under saturation or bad drainage conditions. This soil has a thick, dark mollic horizon and high organic matter content.

Timely and accurate acquisition of information on distribution of the crop planting structure in Loess Plateau of eastern Gansu Province, one of the most important agricultural areas in western China, is crucial for promoting fine management of agriculture and ensuring food security. In this study, the Object-Based Image Classification (OBIC), the Random Forest (RF) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models were employed to classify the crop planting structure of four representative test areas in Qingyang City in a precise manner. Firstly, different optimal segmentation scales for various crops were selected using the Estimation of Scale Parameter 2 (ESP2) tool and the Ratio of Mean Difference to Neighbors(ABS) to Standard Deviation (RMAS)model. The images were then segmented through multiresolution segmentation combined with the Canny Edge Detection algorithm. Secondly, the L1 regularized logistic regression model was utilized to select and optimize 39 spatial feature factors including spectral, textural, geometric, and index features, in conjunction with phenological factors. Lastly, under the multi-level classification framework, the Random Forest (RF) classifier and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model, combined with object-based multiresolution segmentation, was used to classify the crop planting structure. The findings show that: Thanks to the Canny Edge Detection algorithm, we can obtain a more complete boundary of the segmented objects and improve the separability. The optimal segmentation scales for corn, vegetables, and buckwheat were found to be 55, 70, and 35, respectively, while wheat and apple had optimal segmentation scales of 65. In addition to phenological characteristics, the number of selected spatial features for corn, vegetables, buckwheat, wheat, and apple were 9, 7, 16, 12, and 10, respectively. The CNN model demonstrated high consistency with the RF model in the classification results, but the accuracy of RF model is higher than that of CNN model on the whole. The overall accuracy of classification using RF model in four test areas registered 91.93%, 94.92%, 89.37% and 90.68%, respectively. This paper introduced crop phenological factors, effectively improving the extraction precision of shattered agricultural planting structure in the Loess Plateau of eastern Gansu Province. Its findings have important application value in crop monitoring, management, food security and other related fields.

The performance of a small reconfigurable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is evaluated, 1 combining a multidisciplinary approach in computational analysis of additive manufactured struc- 2 tures, fluid dynamics, and experiments. Reconfigurable UAVs promise cost savings and efficiency 3 without sacrificing performance, while demonstrating versatility to fulfill different military mission 4 profiles. The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in UAV design produces higher accuracy 5 aerodynamic data, which is particularly important for complex aircraft concepts such as blended 6 wing bodies. To address challenges relating to anisotropic materials, the Tsai-Wu failure criterion is 7 applied to structural analysis, using CFD solutions as load inputs. Aerodynamic performance results 8 show the low-speed variant attains an endurance of 1 hour, 48 minutes, whereas for its high-speed 9 counterpart, it is 29 minutes at 66.7% higher cruise speed. Each variant serves different aspects of 10 small UAS deployment in combat, with low-speed envisioned for close surveillance, and high-speed 11 for incursions. Experimental and simulation results suggest room for design iteration, in wing area 12 and geometry adjustments. Structural simulations demonstrated the need for airframe improvements 13 in the low-speed configuration. This paper highlights the potential of reconfigurable UAVs to disrupt 14 the industry, advocating for further research and design improvements.

The rapid urbanization in China has significantly contributed to the vast expansion of urban built-up areas. Precisely extracting and monitoring these areas is crucial for understanding and optimizing the developmental process and spatial attributes of smart, compact cities. However, most existing studies tend to focus narrowly on a single city or global scale with a single dimension, often ignoring mesoscale analysis across multiple urban agglomerations. In contrast, our study employs GIS and image processing techniques to integrate multi-source data for the identification of built-up areas. We specifically compare and analyze two representative urban agglomerations in China: the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in the east and the Chengdu-Chongqing (CC) region in the west. We use different methods to extract built-up areas from socio-economic factors, natural surfaces, and traffic network dimensions. Additionally, we utilize a high-precision built-up area dataset of China as a reference for verification and comparison. Our findings reveal several significant insights: (1) The multi-source data fusion approach effectively enhances the extraction of built-up areas within urban agglomerations, achieving higher accuracy than previously employed methods. (2) Our research methodology performs particularly well in the CC urban agglomeration. The average precision rate in CC is 96.03%, while the average precision rate in YRD is lower at 80.33%. This study provides an objective and accurate assessment of distribution characteristics and internal spatial structure of built-up areas within urban agglomerations. This method offers a new perspective for identifying and monitoring built-up areas in Chinese urban agglomerations.

Evidence is emerging on the role of maternal diet, gut microbiota, and other lifestyle factors in establishing lifelong health and disease, which are determined by trans-generationally inherited epigenetic modifications. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms may help identify novel biomarkers for pregnancy-related exposure, burden, or disease risk. Such biomarkers are essential for developing tools for the early detection of risk factors and exposure levels. It is necessary to establish the exposure threshold to the fetus due to nutrient deficiencies or other environmental factors that can lead to clinically relevant epigenetic changes that modulate disease risks. This narrative review summarizes the latest updates on the roles of maternal nutrients (n-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamins) and gut microbiota on the placental epigenome and its impacts on fetal brain development.

The causes of pediatric cancers often remain unknown; however, due to the development of medicine and technology, genetic disorders may play a crucial role in the genesis of neoplasms. Over time, the number of cancer predisposition syndromes (CPS) and awareness of them are increasing, providing the possibility of cancer prevention and early detection. In this study, we presented data concerning the number and type of oncological cases and their correlation with CPS occurrence in a cohort of Central and Eastern European pediatric population. The data were collected between 2000 and 2019 at the Karol Jonscher Clinical Hospital of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, resulting in a cohort of 2,190 cases in total, of which 193 children (8.81%) were confirmed to have CPS. CPS occurred most frequently in infancy (22.90% of all children suffering from any diagnosed cancer during the first year of life, p &lt; 0.0001), accounting for more than a quarter of all CPS cases in our cohort. CPS were least likely to be observed in patients aged 14 and 15 years (2.17% and 2.44% of children diagnosed with any of the listed cancers at the exact age, respectively, p &lt; 0.05). Among CPS, the most common were neurofibromatosis type I (NF1), Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), and Down syndrome (DS). To conclude, it is important to emphasize the need for personalized treatment for each patient affected by both CPS and subsequent cancer in order to reduce the toxicity of therapy and improve quality of life by reducing the risk of side effect.

Objective: Despite long simulation times, recently developed finite element analysis (FEA) models of knee joints have demonstrated their suitability for predicting individual risk of onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of machine learning (ML) to replicate outcomes obtained from FEA when simulating mechanical responses and predicting cartilage degeneration within knee joint. Design: Two ML models based on the Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) algorithms were developed. The first model (GPR1) utilized age, weight, and anatomical joint dimensions as predictor variables to predict tissue mechanical responses and cartilage degeneration based on FEA data. The second model (GPR2) utilized age, weight, height, and gender to predict anatomical joint dimensions, which were then used as inputs in the GPR1 model. Finally, the GPR1 and combined GPR1+GPR2 models were used to investigate the importance of clinical imaging when making personalized predictions for knees from healthy subjects with no history of knee injuries. Results: In the GPR1 model, R2 of 0.9 was exceeded for most of the predicted mechanical parameters. The GPR2 model was able to predict knee shape with R2 of 0.67 - 0.9. Both GPR1 and combined GPR1+GPR2 models offered equally good performance (AUC = 0.73 - 0.74) at classifying patients at high risk for the onset and development of knee osteoarthritis. Conclusions: In the future, real-time and easy-to-use GPR models may provide a rapid technology to evaluate mechanical responses within knee for researchers or clinicians who have no former knowledge from FEA.

The Oldroyd–B model for a linear viscoelastic fluid is employed to investigate the buoyant flow in a vertical porous layer with permeable boundaries kept at different uniform temperatures. Seepage flow in the viscoelastic fluid saturated porous layer is modelled through an extended version of Darcy’s law taking into account the Oldroyd–B rheology. The basic stationary flow is parallel to the vertical axis and describes a single–cell vertical pattern where the cell has an infinite vertical height. A linear stability analysis of such a basic flow is carried out to determine the onset conditions for a multicellular pattern. The neutral stability curves and the values of the critical Rayleigh number are evaluated numerically for different retardation time and relaxation time characteristics of the fluid.

Considering the challenges of sustainable education in emergency remote teaching (ERT) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this study provides basic principles for future ERT implementation based on the experience of higher education in Indonesia. Seven local expert distance educators reviewed the ERT principles, participating in the early stages to check the relevance, content validity, and readability of the five principles proposed in the context of Indonesian education. After an extensive expert review, the ERT principles were evaluated using quantitative data through an online survey (82 students and 45 faculty members). In addition, open-ended questionnaire responses, experiences, and challenges encountered by 21 respondents (College Dean, Associate Dean of Academics, and faculty quality assurance of seven universities/colleges in three provinces in Indonesia) in ERT were used and analyzed. This study suggests that ERT should be designed based on the principles of simplicity, accessibility, affordability, flexibility, and empathy in all learning activities in unfavorable situations. This study complements previous work and can thus be used for generalized principles for teaching activities in similar emergencies, especially in developing countries.

Based on an ethnozoological study carried out from December 2018 to November 2019, this paper attempts to document the usage of squirrel species for various purposes by the Adi, Idu Mishmi, Miju Mishmi, Tangsa, Chakma and Monpa tribe living near the villages adjoining the protected areas located in the districts of East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Dibang Valley, Lohit, Changlang and West Kameng of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The paper also describes the use of certain squirrel species as a part of their traditional culture and lists their names in English, Vernacular and Latin names. The study has led to an understanding that eight squirrel species are used by the tribes for cultural, food and medicinal purposes. This work contributes to ethnozoological research by describing a knowledge system of squirrel species use and the association of squirrel species with the cultural believes of the tribes.

The Himalaya is well known for high diversity and ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants. However, not all areas of the Himalayas are well studied. In particular, studies on ethnobotanical uses of plants from the Eastern Himalayas are rare and lacking for many tribes. Past studies primarily focused on listing plants name and their traditional medicinal uses. However, studies on traditional ethnopharmacological practices on medicine preparation had not yet been reported in published literature from the Eastern Himalaya. In this study, we are reporting the first time ethnopharmacological used 24 medicines, their procedures of preparation and listed 53 plant species used for those medicines for Monpa tribe. Such documentations had not yet been done for other tribes in India. Our research demonstrates the urgent need to documents traditional medicine preparation procedures from the local healers before rapid cultural modernization forgets them in transforming country like India. This study should motivate national and international researchers to do more works on ethnopharmacology and bioprospecting.

White oak mortality is a significant concern in forest ecosystems due to its impact on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Understanding the factors influencing white oak mortality is crucial for effective forest management and conservation efforts. In this study, we aimed to investigate the spatial pattern of white oak mortality rates at different locations of the eastern US and explore the underlying processes involved with the spatial distribution patterns. Multicycle Forest Inventory and Analysis data were compiled to capture white oak plots across the eastern US. White oak mortality data were collected across plot systems that utilized Diameter at Breast Height between two periods. Ripley’s K function was used to study the spatial pattern of white oak mortality rate. Results found clustered patterns at both local and broad scales and random patterns at broad scales only across the southern and northern regions. However, the central region indicated both clustered and random patterns at local scale only. We found uniform patterns at a broad scale across all regions. Our findings demonstrated the importance of the spatial pattern of the white oak mortality rate and the underlying factors associated with it. This research can inform forest management practices for the conservation of white oak populations at varying scales. Future research is needed for a comprehensive assessment of biotic and abiotic factors for forest management strategies at various spatial scales aimed at mitigating white oak mortality.

The rising severity and frequency of wildfires in recent years in the United States have raised numerous concerns regarding the improvement in wildfire emergency response management and decision-making systems, which require operational high temporal and spatial resolution monitoring capabilities. Satellites are one of the tools that can be used for wildfire monitoring. However, none of the currently available satellite systems provide both high temporal and spatial resolution. For example, GOES-17 geostationary satellite fire products have high temporal (1-5 min) but low spatial resolution (2 km), and VIIRS polar orbiter satellite fire products have low temporal (~12 h) but high spatial resolution (375 m). This work aims to leverage currently available satellite data sources, such as GOES and VIIRS, along with Deep Learning (DL) advances to achieve an operational high-resolution, both spatially and temporarily, wildfire monitoring tool. Specifically, this study considers the problem of increasing the spatial resolution of high temporal but low spatial resolution GOES-17 data products using low temporal but high spatial resolution VIIRS data products. The main idea is using an Autoencoder DL model to learn how to map GOES-17 geostationary low spatial resolution satellite images to VIIRS polar orbiter high spatial resolution satellite images. In this context, several loss functions and DL architectures are implemented and tested to predict both the fire area and the corresponding brightness temperature. These models are trained and tested on wildfire sites from 2019 to 2021 in the western U.S. The results indicate that DL models can improve the spatial resolution of GOES-17 images, leading to images that mimic the spatial resolution of VIIRS images. Combined with GOES-17 higher temporal resolution, the DL model can provide high-resolution near-real-time wildfire monitoring capability as well as semi-continuous wildfire progression maps.

Haemodynamic simulations are increasingly used to study vascular diseases like Intracranial Aneurysms (IA) and to further develope treatment options. However, due to limited data, some aspects must rely on heuristics, especially at the simulation’s distal ends. In literature, Murray’s Law is often used to model the outflow split based on vessel cross-section area, but this poses challenges for the communicating arteries in the Circle of Willis (CoW). In this study, we contribute by assessing the impact of Murray’s Law in patient-specific geometries featuring IA at the posterior communication. We simulate different domain extensions, representing common modelling choices. We establish Full CoW simulations as a baseline to evaluate the effect of these modelling assumptions on haemodynamic indicators, focusing on IA growth and rupture-related factors like Wall Shear Stress (WSS) and Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI). Our findings reveal qualitative alterations in haemodynamics when not modeling posterior communication. Comparisons between computing the anterior circulation and computing the whole Circle of Willis reveal quantitative changes in WSS may reach up to 80%, highlighting the significance of modelling choices in assessing IA risks and treatment strategies.

Greek yogurt (GY), a high-protein-low-fat dairy product, particularly prized for its sensory and nutritional benefits, revolutionized the North American yogurt market in less than a decade, bringing with it new sustainability challenges. The standard production of GY generates large volumes of acid whey, a co-product that is a potential source of environmental pollution if not recovered. This study aims to assess the environmental performance of different technologies and identify the main factors for improving GY production. A complete life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to compare the standard technology (centrifugation) with two new technologies (fortification and ultrafiltration) to reduce acid whey volumes. Three milk protein concentrate alternatives were also assessed. Results show that the technology choice is not a clear discriminant factor. However, minimizing losses and wastage (accounting for 23 to 25% of the environmental impacts for all indicators) beyond the processing plant and selecting milk ingredients (accounting for 63 to 67% of the impacts) with low environmental impacts are key factors in improving the environmental performance of GY systems. From a methodological perspective, the results also highlight a shortcoming in the current International Dairy Federation LCA guidelines (2015) for treating the multifunctionality of GY systems.

Over the past three decades, the region has undergone significant changes that have transformed the social, economic and political landscape. The traces of these changes are particularly visible in the post-socialist states of Central and Eastern Europe. These processes have sometimes fragmented, sometimes reshaped, and sometimes transcended borders, reshaping the region. The focus of this study is on the 'geography' of companies, i.e. the concentration of companies with more than 10 employees in the region in the 15 countries selected, according to various criteria. The countries covered by the study are Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. The data of the active economic operators (over 300 thousand) of the countries included in the study were analyzed by turnover and size. The spatial distribution of enterprises at the NUTS3 level presents a far more diverse picture than what is typically observed in economic indicators such as GDP. Additionally, the disparities in this particular distribution are not as pronounced or distinct as those of general economic indicators.

This survey was conducted on 4 tribes (Ababda, Bisharia, Nubian and Rashayda) live in the south of the Nile and the Eastern Desert of Egypt with the aim to document and compare the traditional herbal medicines and assess the relationships among these tribes. A total of 180 interviews were conducted with the Bedouins and herb healers. Thirty-nine species belonged to 36 genera and 27 families were employed. Fabaceae and Poaceae and Rutaceae were the species-rich families. The used wild species comprised 43.6%, cultivated species (38.5%) and the imported from herbalist shops (17.9%). The leaves were the most used parts (31%), followed by stems and fruits with about 22% each. Distinct species included Acacia nilotica is used in the treatment of dental pain with use value 33.3%, Cymbopogon schoenanthus subsp. proximus in treatment of both cough or headache with use values 35 and 30.6% and a combination of Acacia nilotica with Lawsonia inermis in the treatment of sore throat with use value 22.2%. The highest similarity was recorded between Nubian and Rashayda tribes (55.3%), Ababda and Bisharia (46.8%). Diarrhea and headache were the most popular diseases with 7 different treatments, cough and dental pains with 6 treatments.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most sexually transmitted infection associated with the development of cervical cancer. This study investigated cervical HPV prevalence, characteristics and distribution according to age and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among women attending public community health facility in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A total of 325 participants (aged 18 to 60) visiting a community health facility for any reason were recruited. Cervical HPV infection was detected using the Seegene Anyplex™ II HPV28 assay. Overall HPV prevalence was 65.2% (95% CI: 59.9–70.2%), with the highest prevalence of 80.9% (95% CI: 67.2–89.8%) observed in the 18–25 years age group and lowest prevalence of 46.3% (95% CI: 35.8–57.1%) in 46–60 years of age. HR-HPV infection was found to decrease with increasing age among women who were HPV infected by any type (p=0.02), but not when stratified according to HIV status. A proportion of 12.9% (42/325) were infected with one or more HPV types covered by the Cervarix® HPV vaccine (HPV-16 and/or -18), 18.8% (61/325) by those covered by Gardasil®4 (HPV-6, -11, -16 and/or -18) and 42.2% (137/325) by those covered by Gardasil®9 (HPV-6, -11, -16, -18, -31, -33, -45, -52 and/or -58). Alpha-9 HPV species were the most dominant species (40.6%, 132/325), followed by alpha-7 species (29.8%, 97/325). In the overall population, alpha-9 HPV species were always part of the most dominant HPV alpha species co-infection, which were alpha-9 and -7 species (17.5%, 57/325), alpha-9 and -5 species (9.8%, 32/325), and alpha-9 and -6 species (9.5%, 31/325). High overall HPV, HR-HPV, and alpha-9 species prevalence were observed among women attending the public health facility. These findings contribute to the limited HPV distribution data among Eastern Cape women, which could be used to improve HPV-related policy and assess the effectiveness of the HPV vaccination.

Approximately 300 different types of blood groups are identified so far, the ABO and Rh antigens are still the clinically most significant and genetically most polymorphic of all human blood group systems to date. A total of 200 unrelated individuals from Uttar Pradesh were studied for the phenotype and allele frequency distribution of ABO and Rh (D) blood groups. In total 200 samples analyzed, phenotype B blood type has the highest frequency 36.5% (n=73), followed by O (34.5%; n=69), A (20.5%; n=41) and AB (8.5%; n=17). The O, A and B frequencies were 0.5849, 0.1571 and 0.2580 respectively. The overall phenotypic frequencies of ABO blood groups were B>O>A>AB. The variation in phenotypic frequencies between male and female might be due to small sample size of male sample. The allelic frequency of Rh-negative was 0.2.

The region of Eastern Europe & Turkey contributed to the SISAL (Speleothem Isotopes Synthesis and AnaLysis) global database with stable carbon- and oxygen isotope time-series from 18 entities from 14 cave systems. The currently available oldest record from this region is the ABA-2 flowstone record (Abaliget Cave; Hungary) reaching back to MIS 6. The temporal distribution of the compiled 18 entities points out a ~20-kyr-long period, centering around 100 ka, lacking speleothem stable isotope record in the region. The regional subset of SISAL_v1 records displays a continuous coverage for the past ~90 kyr for both δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C, with a mean temporal resolution of ~12 yr for the Holocene, and >50 yr for the pre-Holocene period. The highest temporal resolution both for the Holocene and the pre-Holocene was achieved in the So-1 record (Sofular Cave; Turkey). Assessing the data, an important split was found regarding the climatic interpretation of speleothem δ¹⁸O. While the oxygen isotope composition of more continental formations is thought to reflect mainly temperature variations and changes in moisture transport trajectories, it may strongly reflect fluctuations of precipitation amount in the southern part of the region. Variations of δ¹³C primarily interpreted as humidity changes reflecting dry/wet periods across the region. Elevation gradients from three non-overlapping time periods from the region - for the last 5kyr - indicated systematically prevailing elevational gradients around -0.26‰ 100m^-1 in δ¹⁸O. The regional comparison of SISAL_v1 speleothem δ¹⁸O and the temporal distribution of coarsely crystalline cryogenic cave carbonate occurrences back to 45ka does not appear to confirm the finding that occurrence of the latter coincides with the warming from stadial to interstadial conditions.

Land degradation is a serious impediment to improving rural livelihoods in Eastern Africa. This paper identifies major land degradation patterns and causes, and analyzes the determinants of sustainable land management (SLM) in three countries (Ethiopia, Malawi and Tanzania). The results show that land degradation hotspots cover about 51%, 41%, 23% and 23% of the terrestrial areas in Tanzania, Malawi and Ethiopia respectively. The analysis of nationally representative household surveys shows that the key drivers of SLM in these countries are biophysical, demographic, regional and socio-economic determinants. Secure land tenure, access to extension services and market access are some of the determinants incentivizing SLM adoption. The implications of this study are that policies and strategies that facilities secure land tenure and access to SLM information are likely to incentivize investments in SLM. Local institutions providing credit services, inputs such as seed and fertilizers, and extension services must also not be ignored in the development policies.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), in particular large language models such as ChatGPT have reached public consciousness with a wide-ranging discussion of their capabilities and suitability for various professions. The extant literature on the ethics of generative AI revolves around its usage and application, rather than the ethical framework of the responses provided. In the education sector, concerns have been raised with regard to the ability of these language models to aid in student assignment writing with the potentially concomitant student misconduct of such work is submitted for assessment. Based on a series of ‘conversations’ with multiple replicates, using a range of discussion prompts, this paper examines the capability of ChatGPT to provide advice on how to cheat in assessments. Since its public release in November 2022, numerous authors have developed ‘jailbreaking’ techniques to trick ChatGPT into answering questions in ways other than the default mode. While the default mode activates a safety awareness mechanism that prevents ChatGPT from providing unethical advice, other modes partially or fully bypass the this mechanism and elicit answers that are outside expected ethical boundaries. ChatGPT provided a wide range of suggestions on how to best cheat in university assignments, with some solutions common to most replicates (‘plausible deniability,’ language adjustment of contract written text’). Some of ChatGPT’s solutions to avoid cheating being detected were cunning, if not slightly devious. The implications of these findings are discussed.

The reproductive biology of the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus was studied in the Thermaikos Gulf (Northwest Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean). In the two-year survey 5,698 (2,897♂/ 2,801♀) crabs were caught with the use of fyke nets. Total sex ratio (♂/♀) reached equality (1.03:1). The female blue crab exhibited a protracted reproductive period. Mature and ovigerous females exhibit short migratory movements from estuarine and inshore waters, where the population mostly congregates (0-3 m), and move to slightly deeper waters (1-3 m) up to 9 m for spawning. A total of 340 ovigerous females were caught. Their number varied both spatially and temporally; they were observed for a 7-month period (April to October) with a clear peak in July - August and at a 3 m depth gradient corresponding to ≈60% of the total number of ovigerous females caught in both years. Size at first sexual maturity (CW50) was estimated at 113.1 mm CW. Average fecundity was ≈790,000 eggs. Experimental trawling showed that inshore waters (<1 m) in the estuaries serve as nursery areas for juveniles. Defining the spatiotemporal and bathymetrical distribution of ovigerous females in any invaded coastal habitat could be considered key information for the implementation of a management policy for the species.

The invasion of ship domain stands out as a significant factor contributing to the risk of collisions during vessel navigation. However, there is a lack of research on the mechanisms underlying collision risks specifically related to merchant and fishing vessels in coastal waters. This study proposes an assessment method for collision risks between merchant and fishing vessels in coastal waters and validated through a comparative analysis through visualization. First of all, the operational status of fishing vessels is identified. Collaboratively working fishing vessels are treated as a unified entity, expanding their ship domain during operation to assess collision risks. Secondly, to quantify the collision risk between ships, a collision risk index (CRI) is proposed and visualized based on the severity of collision risk. Finally, taking the high risk area of merchant and fishing vessels collision in the Minjiang River Estuary as an example, this paper conduct the analysis involves classifying ship collision scenarios, extracting risk data under different collision scenarios, and visually analyzing areas prone to danger. The results indicate that this method effectively evaluates the severity of collision risk, and the identified high-risk areas resulting from the analysis is verified by accidents occurred in the recent three years.

To get more data concerning the influence of fertilizers (organic and mineral) on different forage plants existing in North-eastern Romanian grassland, the mass fractions of 14 essential, enzymatic, or considerd toxic elements was determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis together with the amount of crude proteins, ash, fibres as well as ether fact extract. Final results showed a significant variance of the content of analysed elements on organic as well as on mineral fertilized experimental plots, i.e. the content increased in 24% of plots, decreased in 23%, and remained unchanged in 45% while in 8% of plots their content was below the detection limits, as the case of Se. At the same time, an increase content of crude protein and ether extract was evidenced in fertilized grasses for all applied fertilizers while other global indicators such as neutral and acid fibre of sufuric lignin content decreased, suggesting significant higher nutritional values of fertilized forage plant.

Despite the impact that climate change is having on our planet and considering its consequences for future generations, much of the academic literature focuses on adolescent and adult percep-tions, giving little relevance to children's perceptions. Children's voices have the potential to in-fluence public opinion, which may in turn determine the direction of a new policy on the cli-mate crisis. In this context, it is urgent that we understand how children perceive this problem. This quantitative study was based on the application of 245 questionnaires to children aged be-tween 9 and 13 years old from five schools in north-eastern Portugal, more specifically in the region of Trás-os-Montes. To collect the data, we used a questionnaire with 26 questions, being 24 of closed response, Likert type, one of them open response, and one multiple choices. The da-ta were statistically treated using SPSS software. The results show that most of the children ex-press concern about the study's potential problem. However, they show some doubts and a lack of knowledge about some of the themes. We found differences between the two study cycles, with children in the 6th grade having a higher average in the understanding of the phenomenon, as well as the level of education of the parents being positively correlated with a more ecocen-tric posture. The female students also showed a slightly more ecological posture, i.e., an eco-friendlier posture. From the results obtained, we can open new paths for future research and contribute to the definition of policies and educational practices since the school has the respon-sibility to cooperate in the production of values, attitudes, and pro-environmental behaviours.

Abstract : Background : porcine cysticercosis is an endemic parasitic zoonosis in many developing countries. The objective was to estimate the seroprevalence of porcine cysticercosis in traditional pig farms in the departments of Dabou, Aboisso and Agboville where blood samples were taken from pigs and analyzed by ELISA (IgG) and western blot. Data on farming practices and pig characteristics were collected. Categorical variables were compared with the Chi2 test and continuous variables with the Student test. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to identify risk factors. Results: A total of 668 pigs were sampled from 116 farms. The seroprevalence of cysticercosis was estimated at 13.2%. Overweight [ORa=2.6; 95%CI(1.3-4.9)] and fat pigs [ORa=2.3; 95%CI(1.0-4.8)] were twice as likely to be seropositive for cysticercosis. This risk was increased in farms using well water for drinking [aOR=2.5; 95%CI(1.0-6.3)] as well as those reporting veterinary care of the animals (ORa=2.9; 95%CI (1.2-7.3)). Conclusions: This study demonstrated the circulation of T. solium in pig farms in southern Côte d'Ivoire.

This paper intends to delve deeply into the current understanding of the ways in which the transition from a central-based economy to an economy relying on free competition, has led to changes in the big urban centres, bringing about a change in the relationships with the suburban areas. The authors take into account the high population density, the lack of space and the elevated price of terrains inside the big cities, hence urban functions migrate beyond the administrative boundaries, thus favouring the process of suburbanization. Within this context, commercial forces are shifted, migrating from the centre to the urban peripheries, or even outside them. This research is based on a comprehensive process of participative investigation (2012-2022) in Bucharest, Ro-mania’s capital city. The research relies on field investigation, statistical and quantitative analyses and bibliographical sources. The conclusions rely primarily on the idea that political changes cannot be separated from economic, cultural and environmental ones, highlighting globalizing flows and the development of big cities. Industrial activities, strongly developed within a central-based economy, have significantly declined, partly compensated for by the development of the tertiary sector and of commercial services, in particular, leading to a functional reconversion of the urban peripheries and of suburban areas. The conclusions suggest that it is very important to be highly careful towards the dilemmas and provocations ensuing from uncontrolled urban growth, therefore several measures of urban planning should be taken with a view to achieving a better co-operation between urban stakeholders and those from the metropolitan areas so as to attain some common objectives in infrastructure in order to reach an integrated regional development.

Stratocumulus (Sc) is the most common cloud type in China. Sc clouds may or may not be accompanied by various types of precipitation that are representative of different macro- and microphysical characteristics. The finely resolved CloudSat data products are used in this study to quantitatively investigate the macro- and microphysical characteristics of precipitating and non-precipitating Sc (PS and NPS, respectively) clouds over Eastern China (EC). Based on statistical information extracted from the CloudSat data, Sc clouds are highly likely to occur alone, in association with liquid precipitation, or in association with drizzle over 25.65% of EC. The cloud bases of NPS clouds are higher than those of PS clouds, although the latter display higher cloud top heights and thicker cloud thicknesses. The spatial distributions of microphysical characteristics differ between PS and NPS clouds. The magnitudes of microphysical characteristics in NPS clouds are relatively small and decrease with height, whereas the magnitudes of microphysical characteristics in PS clouds are relatively large and peak in response to certain circulation patterns and over certain terrain. The variations in microphysical characteristics in Sc clouds with height and contoured frequency by altitude diagrams (CFADs) of radar reflectivity may indicate that different microphysical processes operate in PS and NPS clouds. In NPS clouds, hydrometeor particles accumulate by coalescence as they rise; once the particles are too large to be supported by updrafts, the cloud droplets form raindrops. In PS clouds, raindrops increase continuously in size via collision-coalescence processes as they fall. The levels between 2.5 and 3.0 km represent the space where particles grow most rapidly. Particles are affected by updrafts and accumulate at levels between 2.5 and 1.0 km as height decreases.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a promising technology for sensing and monitoring the environment to reduce disaster impact. Energy is one of the major concerns for IoT devices, as sensors used in IoT devices are battery-operated. Thus, it is important to reduce energy consumption, especially during data transmission in disaster-adverse situations. Clustering-based communication helps reduce a node’s energy decay during data transmission and enhances the network’s lifetime. Many hybrid combination algorithms are proposed for clustering and the routing protocol to improve the network lifetime in disaster scenarios. However, the performance of these protocols is widely varied based on the underlying network configuration and the optimisation parameters considered. In this research, we have used the clustering parameters that are most relevant to disaster scenarios, such as the node’s residual energy, distance to sink, and network coverage. Then, we proposed a bio-inspired hybrid (BAO-PSO) algorithm where the Butterfly Optimisation Algorithm (BOA) is used for clustering and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) is used for the routing protocol. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with the benchmark protocols LEACH, DEEC, PSO, PSO-GA, and PSO-HAS. Residual energy, network throughput, and network lifetime are considered performance matrices. The simulation result showed that the proposed algorithm increases network lifetime by 10%-20% by comparison with the benchmark algorithm.

Diatom assemblages in mud volcanoes are quite rare and poorly studied. The finding of a rich diatom flora in the sediments of the Daginsky Mud Volcano (DMV), located in the tidal zone of the Nyisky Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk, is interesting for studying the conditions for the formation of host sediments in the zone of influence of various extreme factors, such as outflows of gases and water-mud mass, thermal springs, and tides, etc. For this purpose, the composition of diatoms and their concentration in DMV sediments were studied, a comparison was made with diatoms of geothermal springs of the Russian Far East associated with volcanic activity, and the stratigraphic distribution of the found extinct diatoms was analyzed, which is important for determining their source and age of mud volcano roots. Diatom assemblages from DMV sediments are mainly characterized by the predominance of Metascolioneis tumida, Paralia sulcata, Odontella aurita, Pinnunavis yarrensis, Petroneis marina, Cocconeis scutellum, and Navicula digitoradiata. They consist of diatoms of different biotopes and extinct species. The diversity and abundance of brackish water and marine species indicates the predominant influence of sea waters on the formation of DMV sediments. The diverse freshwater species were mainly introduced into sediments with river runoff, but it is likely that some of them, cosmopolitan alkaliphilic species, are inhabitants of geothermal springs. The presence of extinct species from the underlying Neogene sediments from where they were carried with gas-water-mud masses, is the most typical for diatom assemblages of the DMV.

Agroforestry homegardens are integrated arrangements of common vegetable plants in areas close to residences, which follow a structure similar to that of tropical forests, with the cultivation of multiple species to meet the basic needs of families, such as the provision of food and medicine, as well as ensuring an environment for other family activities. Considering the importance of these environments, this work aimed to address the composition and use of plant species in agroforestry homegardens, in order to support society initiatives and government policies to strengthen the management of natural resources and individual and collective well-being in the region. For this, 119 homegardens were studied in the municipalities of Belterra, Mojuí dos Campos and Santarém, in the state of Pará, in the Brazilian Amazonia, comprising five different zones (peri-urban, urban, floodplain, indigenous land and tourist land), obtaining the data via questionnaires and guided visitation by the residents. A total of 5,323 vegetal individual plants were surveyed, distributed in 188 species and 62 botanical families. The data showed that 80.5% of the individual plants are concentrated in 18.6% of the species, with no significant difference in the average of species per homegarden in the five zones. The predominance of species for food use, primarily fruit-bearing, stands out, showing a possible direction for incentive actions and/or for the ordering of public policies and programs aimed at these spaces. Most homegardens have up to 17 plant species; less than half of homegardens have species intended for medicinal use; and there is percentage parity between native plant species and those of exotic origin, where native plants stand out for shading. Agroforestry homegardens play a crucial role in the conservation and cultivation of species for food purposes, with the cultivation or maintenance of plants based on their various purposes, showing distinct profiles of distribution and choice of species, evidencing their socioeconomic and environmental importance. Thus, it is important that these land use systems are valued, investing financial resources in actions and projects aimed at maintaining and enhancing their benefits for the region.

The present study measured household hunger in South-East Nigeria amidst COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 1209 households (urban and rural locations) were sampled. Household hunger was determined using Radimer/Cornel hunger scale, while Chi-square test was done with significance of P<0.05. Results of this study revealed 82.7% prevalence of hunger among households before Covid-19 pandemic, while during Covid-19 lockdown, hunger prevalence rose to 98.6%. It was also observed that covid-19 lockdown significantly affected food prices.The major coping strategy employed by households was relying on less expensive foods(81.14%). A genuine fear of household hunger amidst Covid-19 lockdown in south-East Nigeria was confirmed.

The post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) cracking susceptibility of a coarse grain heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) in SA213-T23 (2.25Cr-1.6W steel), used for boiler tubes employed in thermal power plants, was investigated using a Gleeble thermal cycle simulator. The PWHT cracking susceptibility test was performed at 650℃, 700℃ and 750℃, and it can be judged that the lower the reduce of area, the more susceptible it is to PWHT cracking. The results of the test also showed higher cracking susceptibility at 650℃ and 700℃, mostly involving intergranular fracture, while at 750℃, transgranular fracture was exhibited. Therefore, the PWHT cracking susceptibility is considered to be closely related to grain boundary. The microstructure of the simulated CGHAZ and PWHT at 650℃, 700℃and 750℃ was observed after etching with nital and alkaline sodium picrate etchants. Alkaline sodium picrate etched microstructures showed a white band at the grain boundary at 650℃, 700℃ and 750, that did not appear in nital etching. Analysis of the white band using EPMA, TEM and nanoindentation revealed that it was intergranular ferrite depleted with C, W and Cr as compared to that in the matrix. Based on these results, we investigated the mechanism of intergranular ferrite formation during PWHT and its effect on PWHT cracking susceptibility at 650℃, 700℃ and 750℃.

Historical legacy of Eastern European and Balkans’ health systems was mutually interdependent and shaped by local socioeconomic circumstances. Three distinctive systems of risk sharing and health financing to develop since the late XIX century were the Bismarck, Beveridge, and Semashko systems. Modern day healthcare systems in these countries are challenged by population ageing, accelerated innovation in medical technology, growing purchasing power and rising demand for healthcare services. Supply side changes contribute to demand side efficiency bottlenecks in financing, driving the costs of the already expensive medical care up. All of the nations have a large share of citizens experiencing difficulty with affordability and access to medical care, particularly in rural and remote areas. Network of Health technology assessment agencies have mushroomed over the past three decades. Principles of health economics theory and cost-effective resource allocation are slowly gaining ground in governing authorities’ mindset and decision-making process. For many years to come, pharmaceuticals and medical services will remain dependent on out-of-pocket spending. Currently accelerating and spreading 4.0 Industrial Revolution, together with the Belt and Road Initiative, are likely to substantially impact the further economic development of this vast region. Post-Pandemic ‘Green’ Recovery strategies adopted by many of the Eastern European governments shall also make this transition towards sustainable development more difficult and challenging given the large dependency of all these economies upon traditional carbon fuels.

: Background and objectives: One of the most severe symptoms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TBEP) is tuberculous meningitis (TBM) which is linked to significant morbidity and high mortality. It is well recognized that HIV-positive people are more likely to develop TBEP, including TBM, especially if they have severe immunodeficiencies. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective clinical study based on hospital medical records of the diagnosed patients with HIV/AIDS and Tuberculous Meningitis in North-eastern Romania, hospitalized at "Sf. Parascheva" Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases from Iasi. We aim to highlight the profile and the caracteristics of the HIV/AIDS and Tuberculous Meningitis coinfection cases. The time frame under study was from January 1st, 2010, to December 1st, 2022. Results: Our Center has a total number of patients on record of 1692. Patients co-infected with HIV- TB were 195 of which 19 cases were HIV- TBM coinfection and it was more common in women. From this total, 6 cases were late presenters and 13 patients were already in the center's records with a deficient immunological viral status, non-compliant, and non-adherent to antiretroviral therapy. The average age in the study group was 27 years old. The mean admission day number was 17.73 days. CSF findings (qualitative and quantitaitve examination, biochemestry) were in accordance with the literature. Conclusions: The key to the management of the HIV-positive patient is the multidisciplinary approach and access to antiretroviral therapy. We must find and eliminate obstacles affecting patients and the healthcare system. In order to increase ART uptake among HIV-infected TB patients and to put an end to the TB and HIV epidemics.

An ionospheric response at middle latitudes to geomagnetic storms is not yet very well understood. Total electron content (TEC) variations associated with eight strong geomagnetic storms between 2015 and 2022 obtained from GNSS receivers in the western area of the North Atlantic (Portuguese continental and insular territory) are studied in an attempt to fill this gap. It was found that for most of the studied geomagnetic storms TEC variations are synchronous for the longitudinal ranges from 27ºW and 9ºW. In the southern part of the studied region (around 32ºN) the amplitude of TEC variations is, in general, significantly higher than in the northern part (around 39ºN). Some of the studied geomagnetic storms were associated with TEC variations that we interpret as effects of post-sunset equatorial plasma bubbles that travelled well north from their habitual region. Also, while most of the studied storms were accompanied by reports on different kind of malfunction of GNSS systems (GPS; GALILEO and other), there is no clear pattern in their appearance in dependence on the geomagnetic/ionospheric storms’ strength, commencement time, and its characteristics, in general.